Lord Of The Flies Simon Symbolism

In the novel The Lord of the Flies by author William Golding, Simon represents morality, intrinsic benevolence, and religion. Simon is one of the oldest boys. He is small and skinny with a pointed chin and long black hair. He is “burned to a glistening tan” (56). Throughout the story Simon tries to help little ones with various tasks. This helps cement that he represents goodness in both a literal and allegorical sense. His tendencies towards isolation can correlate to deep religious ties or mysticism. His visions can also relate to mysticism. Simon can represent goodness and benevolence in people. Many times Simon tries to help the little ones, such as when “Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them down the the endless, outstretched hands” (56). Simon tends to be so generous that the little ones will follow him around chronically. He shows willingness to help those who can’t help themselves in this instance, and he expresses his concerns for the younger children

He is the only one to not participate in the chanting of Jack’s tribe before the beast is killed. This shows that he in not touched by the savagery that infects the other boys. His basic sense of right and wrong is ingrained deeper than that of any other boy. When Jack knocks off piggy’s specs, Simon is noticeable distressed, and “Passions beat about Simon on the mountaintop with awful wings” (71). Simon’s morals are well cemented and he sees the actions that Jack takes against piggy wrong regardless of any previous relation with Jack.

The help Simon gives to the little ones shows he represents goodness in people and society. His visions and prophecies, along with his isolation and meditation, show that he represents spirituality and religion. Finally his dissociation with savagery and his eventual death to savagery show that he embodies morality in