Throughout the novel, Piggy’s glasses represent the civilization and, as Piggy loses his ability to see, so do the other boys lose their vision of that civilization. When the story begins, Piggy can see clearly with both lenses of his spectacles, and the boys are still fairly civilized. For example, at one of their first meetings, the boys decide that they “can’t have everybody talking at once” and that they “have to have ‘Hands up’ like at school.” (Pg. 36). However, after some time, the hunters become more concerned with slaughtering a pig than with being rescued and returning to civilization. When they return from a successful hunt in the jungle, Ralph and Piggy try to explain to the hunters that having meat for their meals is not as important as keeping the signal fire burning. In a following fight, Jack knocks Piggy’s specs from his face, smashing one of the lenses against the mountain rocks and greatly impairing his vision (pg. 75, 78). Finally, after Jack forms his own tribe of savages, Piggy's specs are stolen, leaving him nearly blind (pg. 154). Meanwhile, Jack returns to Castle Rock, "trotting steadily, exulting in his achievement," as he has practically abandoned Ralph and his civilized life (pg. 186).
The conch symbolizes the law and order of the world, which Piggy tries so desperately to protect. For example, when Jack and his hunters came to steal Piggy’s glasses, Piggy “thought they wanted the conch.” but, they didn’t take the conch but stole Piggy’s glasses instead. (Pg. 185). The conch represents all the power and authority, which the boys are so used to obeying. Ralph uses it to call for the boys to come to meetings. This is done during their first meeting on the island and many other times later throughout the book. Whoever has the shell has the power to talk. When Roger destroys the conch, anarchy quickly takes over because any hope of strong, central leadership has been abandoned. The island society collapses into chaos.
Another example of symbolism in objects is described in the signal fires that Ralph firmly suggests should exist. To Piggy and Ralph, the fire represents the influence of their old life. These fires symbolize a hope for rescue and a return to order and civilization. When the fire was burning bright, it was because the boys were working hard to get rescued. When the fire burnt out, it was because boys, like Jack, didn’t care about being rescued. When the fire went out, Ralph lost track of himself, unsure of his next move. The fire is opposed to hunting, the activity of anarchy on the island. In the end, the fire that got them rescued was not meant for rescue. It was there because Jack was burning down the island to kill Ralph.
In conclusion, Lord of the Flies is a story that shows the dark, fading life that results from mankind's natural capacity for evil, which is allowed to control humans when they are freed from the rules of society. Throughout the novel, Golding uses many different objects as symbols to illustrate this theme. Some of those objects would be insignificant in real life. However, in Lord of the Flies, each of the previously mentioned symbols is vital to the story's theme.
