What Is Piggy's Glasses Symbolize In Lord Of The Flies

A symbol is a representation of an idea, concept, or object used to communicate a more profound meaning within a piece of literature or a work of art. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses symbolism to advance the novel's themes further. The book, published in 1954, follows a group of choir boys stranded on a deserted island. The boys establish rules and a system of organization. Still, it all turns to flames because without adults to serve as a civilizing impulse, the children turn to violence and brutality. Golding attempted to trace the defects of society to the shortcomings of human nature through his publication. Through symbols and themes, Golding can connect with the audience like no other. In William Golding's novel Lord of the

savagery. Piggy's glasses have many meanings; however, they are the primary symbol that advances the theme of civilization vs. savagery. Towards the beginning of the novel, at the boys' first meeting, Piggy puts on his glasses before speaking. "Piggy put on his glasses. "Nobody knows where we are," said Piggy. He was paler than before and breathless" (Golding 35). In this scenario, Piggy's glasses represent the use of intellect to think logically, which gets lost as the book progresses. Furthermore, as the story continues, the boys use the glasses' lenses to start a fire, linking the boys to civilization yet again because they are using scientific reasoning. However, the boys begin to wrestle, and the glasses break; Jack and his tribe then steal a piece of the lens. The moment in the book where Piggy's glasses are broken and stolen is vital because it represents the divulgence into savagery. The glasses now have one good lens and one bad one, which means the helplessness of Ralph's group and the weakened ties to society as Jack and the hunter squad gain strength. The glasses represent the theme of civilization vs. savagery because the item was first used as a tool of intellect but then quickly turned into a gateway for savage actions when they were broken. Overall, the glasses represent the doom of the boys and their ultimate dive into