Piggy And Conch In Lord Of The Flies Symbolism Essay

Of all the characters featured in Lord of the Flies who relates to the book’s overall meaning and purpose the most? Piggy. William Golding purposely wrote this as an allegorical story, meaning almost everything -including characters- alludes to or symbolizes something else. I choose Piggy because he is the strongest example of this. Statements made by him, statements said about him, his appearance, his ideas, his death...all of these examples and more have a deeper meaning that just isn’t present within the other characters. These allusions are present throughout the entire story and build upon each-other.

In William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies, the reader comprehends symbols that go throughout the book. These symbols are key factors which determine the importance of the novel. The symbols are a very important part of the literary content. In order to really follow along and understand the story, the reader must understand these symbols for what they mean as well as how they are used. Some of the symbols include the conch, the island itself, and fire. Two of the main characters, Jack and Simon, represent other figures.

When a person reads a book, he or she may notice certain objects or characters throughout that book. These characters or objects may be known as symbols. By definition symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. In Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, there are various symbols in the book, but there is only symbol that I want to write about. Piggy is a main character in this book and his pair of glasses symbolize discovery, power, and safety.

Literary Analyses of the Lord of the Flies The Lord of the Flies demonstrates a wide variety of symbolism; from Christ to Satan the children are portrayed in an abstract manner to represent these religious beings, as well as a symbol of great strife for power. Two of the main symbolic devices are used in the form of a mystical Conch and a cumbersome Sow’s head perched atop a stake; however these symbols represent very different ideas. Next the Lord of the Flies demonstrates the burden and struggle of power in multiple ways. William Golding included within this novel the power of symbolism, using inanimate objects, characters, or even landmasses to represent ideals derived from basic human morals and Christian religion that has a major influence

Quotes Analysis Further reflection “By the time Ralph finished blowing the conch the platform was crowded… before him small children squatted in the Grass. Silence now. Ralph lifted the cream and pink shell to his knees and a sudden breeze scattered light over the platform.” “‘we can't have everybody talking at once… He held the conch before his face and glanced round the mouth. '

William Golding 's novel, Lord of the Flies integrates symbolism through the conch, the beast, and the boys painted faces. By using symbolism the author develops the plot of the novel while allowing the reader to interpret each perspective of the symbols. These allegories work together in a way that expresses the theme; rigorous situations unveil the inner beasts of all people. While difficult situations are still present in modern society, they may not result in the same outcome as previous instances but they are equally

He always wants to help Ralph lead the group as chief, in Chapter 1, Piggy finds “a shell” that they use “to call the others… [to] a meeting” (Golding 16). His idea to use the conch helps him with his aesthetics need for order throughout the island because he “understand[s] and appreciate[s] beauty, balance, and form” (Maslow 6). Although, he has trouble succeeding with this because he is missing many of the lower levels on the pyramid. According to Maslow we “must meet [the] needs in order...and cannot be concerned with needs higher on the pyramid until” we meet the lower levels, and Piggy fails to receive the support required for his love and belonging desires.

Lord of the Flies Symbolism Essay Symbolism is a great way to show the meaning of something or someone to a person. In the story Lord of the Flies by William Golding, it shows much symbolism. There are three things that specifically symbolic to the story. The three symbols are Piggy’s glasses, the conch, and the scar.

Author, William Golding, in his novel, "Lord of the Flies," follows a group of British boys who are stranded on an uninhabited island and try to govern themselves. One of the boys, Piggy, is constantly bullied and considered a nuisance by the power-hungry boys on the island. Golding's use of an isolated setting in the midst of the other boys illustrates Piggy's struggle to liberate himself from their oppression. However the need to survive reveals Piggy's inventiveness and rational mindset.

¨Maybe there is a beast...maybe it 's only us¨. This quote was written by William Golding, the author of Lord of the Flies. This quote connects to the symbolism developed throughout the book Lord of the Flies because through the story the characters learn the beast is themselves all along. This connects to the symbolism of the conch because the conch is part of what makes the boys become the ¨beasts¨. In Lord of the Flies one major symbol is the conch. The conch is a shell that Piggy and Ralph, two of the main characters, find in the beginning of the story. The conch has more than one symbolic meaning to it which helps the reader to better understand the theme of power, civilization, and rules.

However, like Simon, Piggy’s death is more about what it symbolizes than the violence that actually caused it. Piggy is a symbol of wisdom, as he is mostly the voice of reason among the boys on the island. His death is the end of any notions of making a somewhat functional or intelligent society on the island. Also, his dead body being compared to

While trapped on an island full of little boys, some characters have to step up and take point while others are mere confidants who are mistreated and abused. Just like the real world, many people are left out and rejected but they still hold a place in society. Piggy, a young boy on the island, is treated poorly from the very beginning but yet he is known as the scientific, rational side of the civilization portrayed in Lord of the Flies. He quickly becomes Ralph’s confidant but serves a greater purpose in the book by giving rational insight and bright ideas on survival and also someone to pick on to increase insecurities and self power. Piggy served as Ralph’s lieutenant from the beginning to the end.

Symbolism of the Conch in Lord of the Flies by William Golding represents civilization. The novel Lord of the Flies is about a group of boys from England who have been stranded on an island after an airplane crash. They are expected to fend for themselves and are slowly reverting back to their primal savage ways. The group is quickly split into two a savage side and a rational, civilized side. Throughout the novel a key symbol was the conch. The conch starts off as a symbol for civilization, however as the book progresses it is also a symbol for the loss of civilized manners and maintaining order, and this is shown through the ability to start meetings, granting the ability to talk, and the destruction of the conch.

1. Shortly after arriving on the island, Ralph and Piggy discover a conch in the water. Ralph blows the conch to announce his location so the boys can gather. From the first use of the conch, it signifies the unity of the boys because it is what brought them together. The conch is also used to maintain organization. Ralph notices the discord but resolves it by enforcing, “I 'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he 's speaking” (Golding 33). The conch represents the discipline of the boys and their civilization. Since Ralph thought to use the conch as a speaking system, the conch represents his leadership and authority over the boys. It also represents his authority because he is the only boy that does not need the conch to speak. The conch is a part of his authority that is being shared with the boys when it is their chance to voice an opinion or idea. In addition, Ralph does not specify that the conch can only be used by a specific group of boys, rather the conch is available for any boy, therefore representing equality and respect for all boys. Furthermore, the conch represents civilization back in England with its rules and structure. When planning a rescue, the boys race off the build a fire. Upon the mention of fire, “half the boys were on their feet. Jack clamored among them, the conch forgotten” (Golding 38). Building the fire represents the adventure on the island and the conch represents the old ways of English Civilization.

Lord of the Flies remains Golding’s most accredited piece of work. It is an apparently simple but densely layered novel that has been categorized as fiction, fable, a myth, and a tale. Generous use of symbolism in Golding’s work is what distinguishes him with other authors of the same genre. For example, the conch shell, that represents a vulnerable hold of authority which was finally shattered to pieces with Piggy’s death. Secondly, for the other boys, Piggy’s eyeglasses represented the lack of intelligence which was later defeated by superstition and savagery.