A book that makes a person think is always more interesting than a book that does not. Lord of the Flies by William Golding does just that! Golding, using symbolism, shows his readers ideas about human nature that are rarely thought about in society. In this allegorical piece of literature he uses objects and characters as symbols. Each important object in the book is closely related to a character in the book. For example, the conch and Ralph are closely connected, also Piggy and his glasses are directly associated. Lastly, the Lord of the Flies, which could be a character or an object, has a great affect on Simon and Jack. William Golding’s symbolism creates tension that keeps his readers wondering what will happen as this group of once civilized boys turn to their instincts.
One can easily see the symbolism in the conch, with Ralph representing all of the same things. Like the conch, Ralph symbolizes authority, order, respect and leadership. The conch can be seen as a simple object, but it is more fascinating to look at it as a tool used by Ralph. At the beginning of Lord of the Flies the great shell symbolizes power and authority. Ralph, the conch’s first possessor, has the power to call an assembly. When Ralph blows the conch, all the boys come running to him. When the boys come to the first assembly, the conch is a symbol of order. The person who holds it is the only one that can speak. Without the conch everyone would be talking at once and there would be no organization. The conch commands respect. As the boys join the assembly they all show respect to Ralph, who is eventually voted chief because of the boys’ respect for him. The conch is a symbol of leadership. Ralph is the first possessor of the conch and he is the chief. The little bit of leadership given to the person with the conch is shown in that person’s right to talk.
