Study the character of Simon from the novel Lord of the Flies.

The first 200 words of this essay...

Simon maintains a positive outlook on the boys' situation. He represents purity and goodness and can be seen as a Christ-like figure.

He constantly reinforces his belief that they will be rescued when the other boys are pessimistic and have given up hope.

During chapter 5, Simon is perceptive enough to recognise that the "beast" the boys are obsessive about is "only us" - he recognises the evil and savagery that is within them and threatening to take them over with the loss of all rationality.

It is in Chapter 5 that Simon encounters the head of the pig killed by the other boys in the forest. This event provides the title for the book as he names the pig's head "Lord of the Flies". He converses with the pig's head, partly through his own imagination and partly via an unaccountable and savage voice. For Simon this is the confirmation of his belief that he is coming face-to-face with "The beast in everyone". He collapses in a faint and this foreshadows his death in chapter 9.

In chapter 9, Simon is killed by the other boys, fulfilling the prophecy of the Lord of the