The Usage of Symbolism in Lord of the Flies Essay examples

Symbols are often used in literature to drive plot, give clues to events in the story, and develop key characters. They have more than one meaning, and in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding there are three key symbols used: the conch, Piggy’s eyeglasses and the impaled pigs head. These three symbols will be discussed by using specific references to the text as well as examining how they negatively impact the characters in the story. Thesis: Three essential symbols that have a negative impact on the story are the conch, Piggy’s eyeglasses and the impaled pigs head. The conch is a symbol in the novel and represents civilized authority and democracy. When the group of boys are stranded on the island, they choose Ralph as the†¦show more content†¦Even thought Piggy is physically blind without his glasses he has insight as to his surroundings. Jack shows dislike towards Piggy by ridiculing his physique by saying , â€Å"Better Piggy the Fatty†. (40) His intelligence is undermined by the fact that Jack makes fun of him. The need for civilization, innocence and loss of power is shown through the impaled pigs head. In order for the group to survive, animals must be killed in order for the boys to eat. Jack takes on the role of hunter because he enjoys killing living things, as seen when he states, â€Å"Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!† (104) Ralph is a more calm person and does not enjoy killing as much as Jack, although he takes a small part in killing the pig. However, in the end, Jack gains all the power because everyone looks up to him as leader because he attempts to hunt the pig throughout the novel and is successful in the end. â€Å"We’ll take the meat along the beach.† â€Å"Pick up the pig,† Jack said. (150) Meanwhile, Ralph doubts Jacks abilities to kill the pig, and constantly mocks him about being successful. â€Å"He tried to convey the compulsion to track down and kill that was swallowing him up.†(51) Jack proves Ralph wr ong and kills the pig. â€Å"Jack begins to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling.(58) He celebratesShow MoreRelatedLord Of The Flies : Human Savagery And The Flow Of Power1592 Words   |  7 PagesLord of the Flies is a chilling work about human savagery and the flow of power. Golding uses symbolism, characterization, and description to illustrate the occurrences and the underlying themes in the novel. The work has an ominous but irresistible tone that Golding lays out through his description of the island. Golding makes the island seem sinister and irresistible by writing,† The shore was fledged with palm trees. 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