There seems to be a very clear parallel between ‘Lord of the Flies’ and the Bible. The island itself is very similar to the Garden of Eden. This is emphasized when Simon goes out into the forest, picking berries and such. The island began as a heaven; Golding uses phrases such as ‘shimmering water’, ‘white surf flinked on a coral reef’ and ‘dazzling beach’, describing the island in such a positive way; it is an untouched pristine haven when the boys arrive. However, alike to the Garden of Eden, the paradise is ruined by the introduction of evil. The island ends as the antonym of heaven, as, perhaps with the influence of Simon’s death, the boy’s brutal behaviour has turned it into hell.
Following biblical parallels, Simon is put forward as a Christ-like figure. Simon seems to be pure good, and only have good and true intentions at heart. He sees the truth and attempts to tell this to the other boys. Jesus did preach and wasn’t always welcomed with open arms by his neighbours. Alike to Simon his views and teachings were not appreciated in his time.
It is said in the Christian gospels that whilst Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights, he had an encounter with the devil. I think Golding represented this through Simon’s confrontation with the Lord of the Flies in the novel, the pigs head being the devil. This is justified by the African translation, which relates to the Bible as Beelzebub, a powerful demon in hell; thought to be the devil himself.
Jesus was killed for his preaching. He was killed by people he tried to reach with his knowledge, and passively through a friend; Judas. This is alike to Simon, as Simon is killed sacrificially by the other boys, as a result of discovering the truth. Piggy and Ralph, Simon’s trusted friends, also aid in the murder of Simon, unknowingly. This gives reason for, perhaps, Ralph to be seen as Judas. Jack is the leader of all the savages; the ultimate reason for Simon’s death and through his actions he may be read as Pilate, the one who grudges Simon, perhaps out of jealousy, or pure evil.
However, ‘Lord of the Flies’ may not be intertwined with the Bible too closely. Jesus had a supernatural link to God, according to Christian traditions. Whereas, there is no direct mention of God in the Novel. Although, there are a few suggestions that God may be with the boys. Simon’s death was one of the deepest described passages in the book. There are many connotations which reflect heaven, as if Simon is going to heaven. Another implication that God may be with the boys, is the remorse of the rescue at the end. People of the tribe such as Jack, did not seem to deserve to be rescued, but still were. This was perhaps because it wasn’t Jack’s fault that he returned to a savage, primitive state. It was the environment and lack of democracy within it.
Another possibility, which would also relate to religious manners, and perhaps the story of Jesus, is that it was Simon in heaven, who allowed the smoke, which was from the fire intended to kill Ralph, to be seen by the RAF. It is quite ironic that something sent to kill, saved lives. The idea of Simon sending salvation from the heavens is quite supernatural, and therefore could be considered to have religious connotations.
Although Simon appeared to be wise in many ways his death did not bring salvation to the island. It continued to get worse, and reach an ultimate contemptible state. His death plunged the island deeper into savagery and moral guilt.
Simon dies before he has a chance to spread the truth he discovered of the beast – being a fallen parachutist. Jesus, in contrast, was killed whilst spreading his moral philosophy.
Also, Simon’s death ultimately becomes a very dignified and peaceful one, whereas Jesus was crucified, in front of crowds with two wrong doers, one of which being a robber.
Therefore, I believe that although the novel’s parallels with the Bible do enhance the moral themes of the novel, which are key, it is not a huge justification for Simon’s relevance to the novel.
The main quality of Simon, I feel, was his understanding and great knowledge of truth for a boy of such a young age. His deep passion for nature is almost as primal as Jack’s savage evil. I think his function in the novel was definitely to keep the hope going throughout the novel up until his death, as it was after this point that Piggy dies and the island is in complete disarray.
Therefore, it poses the question, would the novel still have the same results if Simon was not in the story, or did not die?
With Simon’s very strong depth of knowledge, and his pure soul of goodness he definitely had an impact in the novel, be it on the storyline or not. I think it was definitely due to the overwhelming de-generation of the boys in to savages, that the island was destructed to such turmoil. However, if Simon was not killed I do not think this would have changed. The boys were not influenced by Simon’s beliefs, and went ahead with their tribal rituals. However, if Simon had have stayed alive then perhaps the novel may not end in such a way. He may have thought of with different solutions in which Piggy and Ralph should confront the savages; subsequently Piggy may not have died, as Roger may not have been dragged to such lengths, as to let Castle Rock go.
I do not think that if Simon was not to die, he would turn evil, like the other boys. He seems to be too much of a messiah like character. The fact that he did die was perhaps the best for him, as the immorality that was to occur, may have lead Simon to drastic things.
If Simon was not in the novel, it may have totally different air. The basis may not be on the ‘beast within’, as Simon would not be there to recognize it, and I do not feel that Ralph alone would be wise enough to see this. The degeneration to primitive states would definitely still occur; the reasoning still being the lack of morals and rules unleashing the evil within man, however, this would not be initiated by Simon’s realization of it, and expressing this to the boys.
I also do not think that Ralph would have been strong enough to survive by himself. When Simon and then Piggy die, it is only a matter of time until Jack’s tribe kill him – fortunately, they were rescued before this had a chance to happen. Although Ralph is a natural leader and is elected as leader, I think he needs that extra person there behind him. And although he does have Piggy I do not think this would be enough throughout the whole novel. Therefore, I think that Ralph would have, perhaps, given into his primitive inclinations, and joined Jack’s tribe, subsequently making it stronger and more powerful, and, ultimately having more fatal consequences.
The importance and true honourableness of Simon is finally reflected in his death, being the most optimistically detailed passage in the book.
The tone of the passage changes from a murder scene to one of tranquility. It is an amazing funeral; giving Simon the justice he deserves.
Pathetic fallacy is used, as it is for Simon many times in the novel. This time the clouds are parting, ready to accept him into heaven. The image is very naturalistic, like Simon.
Descriptions such as, ‘leaf by leaf’ show how carefully and slowly but surely, everything is preparing for Simon to ascend into heaven. Even when the beast is described, he seems much softer, with the surrounding language. The idea of the beast shows redemption; it is a sacrificial image.
Golding writes ‘The edge of the lagoon became a streak of phosphorescence’ shows the quality the island now has, to shine in the darkness. It is a huge contrast to the rest of the island.
The water is mirroring the sky showing how he will be there soon. He is being mirrored in Heaven. It is midnight, there is moonlight – it shows magical connotations.
The phosphorescence is said to be busily moving along, seeming to be looking for something; Simon.
There is a description of ‘moonbeam-bodied creatures with fiery eyes’, these are the representation of angels.
Descriptions such as ‘a coat of pearls’ show the pearly gates of heaven where he will be soon. God is taking him into heaven.
The water swells round him, blessing the evil that killed him, and touching him slowly, preparing him for heaven.
‘The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculptured marble’. Here, he is being immortalized, he is supernatural now.
He rises slowly as water gets beneath him; he is rising towards heaven. He turns slowly in the water. This turn represents everything that was past has now gone.
The ‘creatures with fiery eyes’ continue to prepare him, turning him into one of them; an angel.
‘Somewhere over the darkened curve of the world the sun and moon were pulling; and the film of water on the earth was held, bulging slightly on one side while the solid core turned’. The description of the planets in such a way imply that this is Simon’s destiny, but also detail of Simon opening out into the universe in such a way shows the insignificance of the world, and us as individuals.
The world is in complete darkness, which is such a contrast to what is happening on the island.
If you saw the image of Simon, now, looking down, from a birds eye view, he would look like an angel, in heaven with a halo.
The passage ends with ‘Simon’s dead body moved out towards the open sea.’ This is a very final sentence, none could follow this. It shows his definite ingress into heaven, but also shows that he will go on, as his body continues to drift out to sea.
In conclusion, I think Simon’s contribution to the book gives it its meaning. Without Simon there would be no recognition of the central theme, and therefore the book would not work on as many levels as is possible now. Subsequently it would not be accessible to such a variety of readers and would not work as a successful novel, with such depth and meaning.