Simon being one of the older boys is different from Ralph and Jack, as he is physically weak and unlike the alpha males. This can be seen when Simon first arrives on the island as “he is always throwing a faint”. Furthermore, Simon’s behaviour on the island is perceived as being “queer” and “batty” on the island emphasising that he is different and an outsider. Moreover, perhaps Golding uses Simon to represent how the physically weak on the island aren’t included in hunting.
Simon is one of the few characters on the island that acts sympathetically towards others and cares about their well beings. For example, when Jack ostracises Piggy, Simon “shoved over some meat”, which represents that he is kind and thoughtful. In addition, Simon helpful on the island as he makes the huts and gives the littluns fruit. Golding conveys Simon to be one of the only sensitive boys’ on the island who cares about people and nature. Thus, Simon acts altruistically.
In the novel, Simon represents a holy and altruistic figure. One can infer this as he spends a large proportion of his time in the forest alone. For example, in the forest Golding describes “candle buds” and “white light”, which represents purity about him. Many people feel that Simon represent a Jesus – Christ figure in that he is holy and cares about spirituality. When he dies he is surrounded by “bright creatures” and he lies beneath “constellations”.
The main importance of Simon is that he is the one that discovers the beasts’ true identity. At first Simon realises that the beast “is a human at once heroic and sick”, he touches on the idea that human’s contain an innate evil which causes them to commit terrible actions. Furthermore, Simon meets a mental representation of the beast where he comes of to realise that the reasons things are “no-go” is a result of the boys’ innate evil. Golding uses Simon, an altruist, to come to understand that evil is the “darkness of man’s heart.”
Simon’s death is of vital importance as it truly exposes the boys’ manifestation in to savagery and the darkness in which they possess. Simon’s death is an irony as even though he tries to deliver the news about the beast they end up killing him. Moreover, Simon’s death conveys that human’s in society cannot escape from evil. Perhaps, Golding is trying to depict that humans’ have the potential to kill. The way in which they kill Simon: “gnawing”, “growling” and “biting” shows that the boys’ are animalistic. Simon’s death therefore portrays that through fear the boys would hurt.
Simon can be viewed as the super ego on the island as even though all boys’ are perched between civilising instincts and savagery, he is the closest to good. Simon refrains from hunting and spent most of his time alone in the forest. Simon contrasts the evil of the Lord of the Flies as the pig’s head is surrounded with flies whereas with Simon “the flies let him alone”. Moreover, it shows that Simon is a good character and even though he has the potential to do evil, he chooses not to.
In conclusion, Simon is a significant character in the book as he acts altruistically towards people. Moreover, as Simon is mentally strong and cares about others he is seen by his peers as physically weak and “batty”. Golding chooses to use Simon to represent the super ego in society who refrains from sex and violence. Moreover, it is Simon who discovers the true identity of the beast, and his death shows the manifestation of open savagery.
