A Misfortune in Eden, the Lord of the Flies

The novel deals with repeated themes of evil, philosophy and religion that try to deduce the errors, created by leaders like Ralph and Jack, while creating a perfect civilization. The superior class which constitutes of visionaries and the intelligentsia often come into conflict mostly with Jack and at times Ralph. Simon, a character who is timid and most of the time silent, is known to be the ‘philosopher’ among the group as opposed to Piggy ‘the intellectual’. While Piggy recites rules and orders, it is Simon who thinks more than he speaks. Simon is a singular audience to all the turbulences that occur during the major twists and turns of civilization. The same forest where he seeks solace and salvation amongst Mother Nature turns against him and forces him to encounter the devilish Beast. The Beast is an interesting character who resembles the serpentine figure present in the Garden of Eden. This allusion is obvious as many of the little’uns at one point refer to the creature as the ‘snake beastie’. The Beast who comes to be known as the Lord of the Flies is depicted as a devil but in fact exists in each person. The fear and suspicion that lingers in each and every soul fuels the existence of the imaginary Beast. When Simon realises this, he is close to salvation. The Beast cruelly predicts his death when he says “I am going to get angry… You’re not wanted” (8-144). This confrontation ends when Simon is “swallowed by the darkness” and there is a loss of the once innocence that lingered amongst the childish schoolboys (8-144). Simon can be at best described as an individual who observes mankind but does not attempt to speak out. He realises that he must speak out when he encounters the notorious Lord of the Flies and realises the harmless truth however by then it proves to be ill-fated.

The author uses symbolism and religious allegory so as to demonstrate the significance of qualities that the civilization is lacking or how the society itself disintegrates and leaves behind a vicious public. Ralph tries to repeatedly rouse the demoralized spirits of the boys who slowly give up the hope of being rescued. He himself forgets the purpose of creating and monitoring a fire yet vaguely recalls its importance. The amnesia suffered by the population alters their progress rapidly. Hunting pigs becomes a more important occupation. The hunt for the sow is very fast paced and symbolic as the heat and lust generated by the intensity of the moment encourages Jack and the others to bring out their savage images. This is ironic as it is Jack in fact who declares that “they are not savages but English and the English are best at everything” (2-42). The sow which is reminiscent of a mother figure is the only female character in the whole story. This pig is described as “sunk in deep maternal bliss” which is one of the most important factors that the boys do not possess. The warmth of a mother and that of a religious person like Madonna or the Virgin Mary symbolizes the devotion between the child and the mother or God. The choice of attacking the sow demonstrates the desire of possessing the gift of this power. Golding compares the brutal murder of the mother as an attack on innocence. The happiness and a balance of duties which the boys observe in the pigs arouse their jealousy. As they become deeper immersed in their fierce activities their fear of figures like the Sow, the Beast or God increases. The lust for gaining control over their superiors through any possible method only brings chaos. The gang rape of the sow depicts the anger and arrogance of the boys when vented out altogether. This desire which is frequently adjoined with the term ‘lust’ by Golding gives a sexual connotation. The hunter’s urge to attack innocence is evident when both Roger and Jack and become enthusiastic and enact the brutal rape of the sow of her innocence. Her head which is rammed on a stick signifies the change in the course of civilization, which Simon is an audience to. The rape and bloodshed in the Garden is a sin. The reversal of faith, disbelief in God, and in their own parents causes them to exploit their freedom and embrace barbarity.

William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is an intricate novel that explores various allegories that can be drawn towards civilization.  The deep symbolism, themes and recurrent images often allude to religion or the loss of faith in a society where God was once feared. The conflicting roles in a formulated society, and the conversion of faith in God to belief in the existence of the ‘Lord of the Flies’ predicts the demise of civilization. In the end the approach which the reader takes on the result of the process is death and decay.