Essay on Symbolism in Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

Symbolism in Lord of the Flies, by William Golding In his classic novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses many elements of symbolism to help the readers gain a greater understanding of his message. Symbolism can be anything, a person, place, or thing, used to portray something beyond its self. It is used to represent or foreshadow the conclusion of the story. As one reads this novel, he or she will begin to recognize the way basic civilization is slowly stripped away from the boys as conflict between civilization and savagery arises. The conch shell represents power and authority. Whoever has the shell has the power to talk. The conch shows how people use objects to give power, like a crown. quot;Conch?quot; quot;Thats what†¦show more content†¦quot;There was a ship. Out there. You said youd keep the fire going and you let it out! They might have seen us. We might have gone home.quot; (Golding, 70) As the novel continues and the boys start to lose their sense of civilization; we learn that objects don’t really give power when people choose not to obey it. Ralph says, quot;Things are breaking up. I don’t know why. We began well, we were happy.quot; (Golding, 89) When it comes down to it, simple things, like people not thinking, make them capable of destruction. Ralph was very popular in the beginning of the story, however as the novel proceeds and the society deteriorates, the popular leader is abandoned for a strong-armed dictator, Jack Merridew. Jack was first described with an ugly sense of cruelty that made him naturally unlikable. Without adults as a superior and responsible authority, he began to lose his fear of being punished for improper actions and behaviors. There are always people who, in a group, come out with better qualities as a leader than others. The strongest people, however, become the greater influences, which the others decide to follow. Jack only cares about being powerful he’s not out for the benefit of everyone; he’s only out for the benefit of himself. Symbolically Jack breaks away from good when he baptizes himself with the blood of the slaughtered pig. He discovered the paint allowed himShow MoreRelatedSymbolism And Symbolism In Lord Of The Flies By William Golding892 Words   |  4 Pageswhole sto ry. Throughout the novel, author William Golding includes symbolism that hints at irony, foreshadowing, and a variety of themes. These symbols contribute to the depth and meaning of the story, allowing the characters to act under their influence. In Lord of the Flies, there is a numerous amount of symbols, such as the signal fire, the conch, and the ritual. The signal fire possesses many symbolic meanings essential to the story, Lord of the Flies. In the beginning of the novel, Ralph startedRead MoreSymbolism in Lord of the Flies by William Golding1153 Words   |  5 PagesGonzalo Barril Merino 3EMC Lord of the Flies Essay Describe the use of symbolism in Lord of the Flies By understanding symbols, you get a better picture of the novel â€Å"Lord of the Flies† and the hidden messages and references to human nature and a criticism of society. The author, William Golding, uses a huge amount of symbolism to reflect society of the outer world with the island. Symbols of fire, the conch and water are described all throughout the novel. Fire represents hope, strength and knowledgeRead MoreSymbolism in Lord of the Flies by William Golding1159 Words   |  5 PagesGonzalo Barril Merino 3EMC Lord of the Flies Essay Describe the use of symbolism in Lord of the Flies By understanding symbols, you get a better picture of the novel â€Å"Lord of the Flies† and the hidden messages and references to human nature and a criticism of society. The author, William Golding, uses a huge amount of symbolism to reflect society of the outer world with the island. Symbols of fire, the conch and water are described all throughout the novel. Fire represents hope, strengthRead MoreSymbolism In Lord Of The Flies By William Golding743 Words   |  3 Pages Symbolism in novels incorporate factors into the story which are understood but unstated. In the Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses symbolism to express the sanity and emotions of the boys stranded on the island. The boys used fire to cook and as a signal for any ships at sea in an attempt for rescue. The fire’s diverse intensities exemplify the authority Ralph or Jack hold over the boys which affects the group’s overall conscience. When the fire is kept at a constant level, Ralph and JackRead MoreThe Use of Symbolism in The Lord of the Flies by William Golding1943 Words   |  8 PagesThe Use of Symbolism in The Lord of the Flies by William Golding A symbol is something concrete that represents another thing or idea. In Lord Of The Flies a lot of things we encounter are given symbolic meaning by the way the author William Golding uses them. The book it’s self is named after a symbol, the words â€Å"Lord Of The Flies† translated means â€Å"Beelzebub† which is another word for â€Å"the devil† the book was named after the devil because evil has a large influenceRead MoreSymbolism Analysis Of Lord Of The Flies By William Golding2013 Words   |  9 Pages Symbolism Analysis of Lord of the Flies â€Å"Lord of the Flies† is a novel written by William Golding which shows the reader dark situations throughout the play of the book. In this novel, boys are completely isolated from civilization and rules. The theme portrays ‘civilization vs savagery’, questioning if civilization fade away without the positive views of rules. Lord of the Flies gives the reader an idea of how humanity’s form can shape throughout different life threatening situations. GoldingRead MoreThe Symbolism of the Conch Shell in Lord of the Flies by William Golding1086 Words   |  5 PagesThe Symbolism of the Conch In Lord of the Flies, several symbols are used to illustrate important ideas that are crucial to the plot and meaning of the book. One of these symbols is the conch: this rare shell is not only a precious and expensive in the world of merchandise; it also holds a dark and mysterious power over a group of English boys, lost on an island with no adults, clues, or means of escape. The boys set up a civilization and try to live in the society they have set up. This systemRead MoreThe Symbolism of Masks in Lord of the Flies by William Golding848 Words   |  4 Pagessomehow the human fascination of applying them to their face makes them seem all the more fun, and interesting. This newfound interest could even leak through to the mind beneath, giving way to a whole new person. In his 1954 novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding illustrated this idea in a way that captured the hearts of many and led the story to fame, concocting a reality that had since resided only in the nightmares of children. Inventing a world in which masks of paint were not a fun thingRead MoreSymbolism Of Fire In Lord Of The Flies By William Golding983 Words   |  4 Pagesmost rational of the group, and Ralph, the leader of all the kids, fire and a pair of bifocals are solely used for survival. Jack on the other hand, who is the leader of the savages, uses fire to harm and control others around him. Lord of the Flies by William Golding acquires an elaborate way to develop deeper meanings of each of the symbols especially fire and Piggy’s glasses. The symbolic meaning of fire is demonstrated throughout the book in many different fashions but mainly it is portrayedRead MoreUnderstood Objects of Symbolism in the Novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding716 Words   |  3 PagesIn every novel, an object may represent something other than what it actually is. Lord of the Flies of by William Golding has several of these objects in it. An explanation for what objects hold symbolic meaning is would be like how snow may represent delight and happiness for a child. These objects also add side stories and add detail to the novel. Three objects that hold immense symbolic meaning in Lord of the Flies are the beast, the conch, and the signal fire. To begin with, one object that