Symbolism in ‘Lord of the Flies’

‘Lord of the Flies’ is a parable showing the harmful effect of the removal of civilized restraints, which results in a complete regression to a brutal and savage state. As Golding himself has admitted, this novel owes its origin to his experiences of brutalities that he had during the World War ׀׀, and those he gained as a teacher of small boys for about 13 years. Through his symbolic presentation, Golding establishes their activities on the deserted island as a clash between two different conceptions of per-civilized humanity. The young school boys are thrown into a literal state of nature.

Golding establishes immediately the contract between the savage and the civilized that exists in this new environment for the boys. Far from grown up society and adult authority, Ralph plays in the beach naked, a practice that associates him to the state of nature, later on leading to the ‘uncivilized’ cultures. Ralph does not make the children afraid of their abandonment on the island, rather approaches it as a paradise in which he can pass their time happily.

With the development of the story, the author draws our attention to the contrast between good and evil, civilization and savagery, kindness and cruelty, guilt and indifference, responsibility and anarchy. Ralph and Piggy symbolizes the rational good side of mankind; with the conch shell as their symbol of authority. On the contrary, Jack and his hunters symbolizes the evil and savagery of mankind, with their association with the beast or ‘Lord of the Flies’. The beast stands for the evil that is present in all human beings, and rationality represented by Simon and Piggy is almost helpless in its presence.

There is Simon, a symbol of vision and salvation. He can see the beast existing in the hearts of all mankind. When he tries to bring the truth to the savage ones, he is sacrificed, much like Christ was sacrificed when he tried to bring truth to the unknowing.   

The boys, in their variety of personalities, represent mankind as a whole. Ralph, the leader is the symbol of the rational, but fallible part of mankind. He tries to establish order in the society, based on rules, authority, reason and knowledge; but he struggles against the forces of evil, Lord of the Flies throughout the book. Jack, his counter part, is the symbol of emotion and savagery. He lives for hunting, acts as a dictator and is occupied by evil purpose.  He knows the base level of human beings and successfully appeals to it through hunting, dancing and fear. 

Each boy has a close follower. Ralph has Piggy, who is an intellectual and wise friend. He is destroyed by the evil hunters. Jack is followed by Roger who, sadistic in nature has the power to destroy and consequently kills Piggy. Simon represents turth, vision and moral understanding. But he is quiet and shy and has difficulty in speaking out. Simon tries to tell the savages the truth about the beast but they refuge to listen and literally tear him apart, as if to blot out his message.

The novel can be viewed as a contrast between democracy and anarchy. The boys elect Ralph is to be their chief. Governed by rationality, he tries to be a democratic leader, who listens to the concerns of all, even the fears of the littleuns, watches out for the good of all alike building and maintaining the fire and protecting them all alike with building shelters. In order to remind the others of his leadership, he wisely and sparingly uses the couch as a symbol of his authority. Jack does not like the democratic rule. He tries to convince the other boys to vote Ralph out of office and put him in the leadership role.  

When they refuse to elect Jack, he reacts in anarchy. Jack pollutes the democratic way of life, captures a part of the island for himself and gains followers through strong arm tactics. He and his savage hunters said the democratic headquarters and steal the lost vestiges of their civilization, the fire and the glasses and break the couch, their authority. Then begins to rule selfishly for his own good and pleasure.

Like a dictator, Jack makes his own laws regardless of the consequences, determines punishment as he sees fit, patronizes savagery amongst his followers and asks for loyalty to the point of servitude. Democracy does not survive on the island, nor does anarchy.

The novel functions as a study of the mankind’s basic nature and the picture painted by Golding is very negative. When the children, symbol of mankind, are away from authority (adults) and without any cheeks (law and policemen), they revert to primitive behavior. They evolve their own undemocratic rules and savage behavior, they even create their own god, Lord of the Flies.Thus, Golding symbolically provides a valuable exploration of basic human behavior through the group of the children.