Lord of the Flies.

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Lord of the Flies

“Lord of the Flies” by Sir William Golding is a story of survival and adventure when a small group of schoolboys become marooned on a remote desert island. During the day the island is an idyllic paradise where they can run about and play in the pools but at night they are haunted by the terrible “Beast”. This essay will examine and comment on the use of symbolism throughout the novel.

   The boys’ first important event when they are on the island is the discovery of a conch shell. Ralph (a sensible boy) and Piggy (a fat boy with glasses) use the conch shell to call all the boys back together after the crash. The shell is also used at the future twice daily meetings to keep the order. Only the person holding the conch was allowed to speak. The conch grew to be a powerful symbol for law and order. Towards the end of the novel when Roger pushes the rock from the ledge and causes Piggy to fall to his death the conch also smashes. The conch shattering on the rock symbolises the end of all law and order on the island.

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   Another symbol is the one which gives the novel its title, “Lord of the Flies”. It is, of course, the pigs head. The description which Golding gives of the pig’s head gives the reader a real sense of the evil surrounding it. With some research I found that the title, “Lord of the Flies” is a translation of the name Beelzebub otherwise known as Satan. While talking to Simon it tells him the evil is inside everyone. The pigs head becomes the symbol for evil while also representing the “Beast”.

   The “Beast” is yet another very ...

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