What is the Function of Simon in the Novel Lord of the Flies.

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What is the Function of Simon in the Novel?

     In the novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ William Golding, the author, does not go into great detail in describing every boy who is stranded on the island. He only chooses a selected few. He uses them to portray a theme. Simon is probably the most difficult boy on the island to understand, as he acts very differently to the other boys. Simon rarely speaks, though when he does speak it is very meaningful.

     Golding makes Simon stand out from the rest of the boys from when he faints on the beach.

     “ Bill, Robert, Harold, Henry; the choir boy who had fainted sat up against a palm trunk, smiled pallidly at Ralph and said that his name was Simon. ” When Golding is giving us the choirboys’ names he expands on Simon, reminding us of his faint and emphasizing it. Simon often goes into the jungle on his own to observe his surroundings and to be in peace and on his own, which is different from the other boys as they all usually stay together. When the boys are discussing the issue of a beast, in chapter five, the boys are angry with Simon for going off into the jungle in the middle of the night. At this stage in the most of the boys are weary of the beast, and for Simon to go off on his own into the jungle at night seems very foolish. Though this is the way Simon is. He seems to prefer being on his own without the company of others. This way he has a better understanding of the situation as he has time to analyse it.

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     Simon is a very generous and helpful character, in that he treats everyone on the island equal to himself. When he is off in the jungle with the littluns he gets fruit off the trees for them, which they cannot reach. In chapter three Simon loyally stays with Ralph to finish building the shelters, while the other boys who were helping had run off to play before they were completed. On the top of the mountain, in chapter four, when Piggy tries to find his glasses, after Jack hit him, Simon helps Piggy get his glasses, standing up ...

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