Lord of the Flies Symbolism

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Alaina Wilson Wilson I Mr. Harrold Academic English II 11 Februaury 2011 The Beast Inside of Us In literature, a symbol is something that stands for something else. Symbolism is using usually items to represent concepts, ideas, or thoughts within a book. In the book “Lord of the Flies” written by William Golding, Golding uses multiple examples of symbolism throughout the whole novel. Using the such as the beast, the conch, Piggy's glasses, and even the boys themselves, Golding demonstrates that humans allow their natural abilities for evil to dominate their existence. The entire book is symbolic of the nature of man and society. In “Lord of the Flies”, the boys who are stranded on the island come in contact with various objects and humans. The objects and humans the boys come in contact with symbolize many ideas or concepts. One of the many symbols includes the boys themselves. The more time the boys spend their existence on the island, the evil within the boys has an effect on their thoughts and actions. The boys, Piggy, Simon, and Jack, symbolize society and civilization. Piggy symbolizes rational, knowledge, and calm thinking. Piggy leads an adult perspective and adult suggestions to the boys at their meetings. He does not act, think, or speak like the other boys. In the book, talking about how Piggy is no chief, Golding says, “But Piggy, for all his ludicrous body, had brains”(Golding 78). Piggy characterizes an outcast because of his physical features. He defines as overweight, pale, and asthmatic. Forster says, “He is the brains of the party”(Forster 98). The boys do not realize that Piggy is the smartest one of the boys and symbols knowledge. Therefore, Piggy symbolizes the scientific, rational side of the civilization. When Piggy dies and the conch is smashed, all order and control of civilization in the story
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