What Does The Beast Symbolize In Lord Of The Flies

Ashton Bendavid
Mrs. Wachell
English 9
13 February 2023
LOTF Symbolism
Since its independence from France in 1960, the Central African Republic has been known as a “failed state” as a consequence of its high poverty rates, rebellions/civil wars, and the underlying fact that they are unable to create a stable and effective government. This has led to the rapid spread of violence and crime, further weakening the state and proving how in the absence of authority rationality is lost and evil thrives. This is analogous to the events portrayed in William Golding’s classic allegorical novel, Lord of the Flies. The protagonist of the story, Ralph, is a twelve-year-old British boy who is stranded on an island with numerous other young boys during the

At the start of the story, the beast is introduced and represents a manifestation of the boy's fear of the unknown. Most boys know that it isn’t real and Jack explains to the ones that do, “ Well then—I’ve been all over this island. By myself. If there were a beast I’d have seen it. Be frightened because you’re like that—but there is no beast in the forest” ( Golding 83). This quote shows Jack reassuring the boys that there is no beast and that they’re being consumed by the fear of something that doesn't even exist. This is an example of the boys' society being civilized at the start of the story by Jack having the common rationality to explain this to the others. Although Jack thinks this now, as he and many others descend into savagery their fear of the beast converts into the belief in its existence, “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in!’ The sticks fell and the mouth of the new circle crunched and screamed. The beast was on its knees in the center, its arms folded over its face” ( Golding 152). This gruesome event is when the beast gains physical presence in the boys through their immoral actions. The beast turns into a symbol of fear and irrational thoughts that completely takes control of the boys, speeding their transformation into savages all as a consequence of the desertion of their morals. Concluding, the beast’s conversion expresses how fear removes morals and sprouts irrational beliefs in their place, capable of leading to the crash of