Lord of the Flies

Themes Even though humankind strives to create civilized societies, it will fail at doing so. Contrary to the belief that man is innocent and society evil, the story shows that laws and rules, policemen and schools are necessary to keep the darker side of human nature in line. When these institutions and concepts slip away, humankind reverts to being primitive.

Themes Evil (the beast) is human, a part of human nature, not outside us. Golding implies that the loss of innocence has little to do with age but is related to a person's understanding of human nature. It can happen at any age or not at all. Painful though it may be, this loss of innocence by coming to terms with reality is necessary if humanity is to survive.

Themes Fear of the unknown on the island revolves around the boys' terror of the beast. The recognition that no real beast exists, that there is only the power of fear, is one of the deepest meanings of the story.

Characters as symbols Ralph=common sense, and responsibility Jack=immediate gratification and irresponsible authority Piggy=ineffective intellectualism Simon=mystic, Religious side of man. Understands good and evil but cannot express it effectively. Samneric=incapable of acting independently. They represent loss of identity through fear of the beast.

Characters as symbols Dead parachutist= the “sign,” evil developing on the island Each of the characters represents a part of man.

...Characters as symbols We all have good, evil, common sense, intelligence, a sense of nature within us.

Objects as symbols Conch shell Lord of the Flies law and order. The shell loses authority as anarchy grows. The conch fades in colour and value. Its power is destroyed with the “fall of Piggy.” Lord of the Flies Refers to the head of the pig which Jack has left as an offering to the “beast.” Literal translation of the “Beelzebub,” prince of demons. Symbolizes man’s capacity for evil

Objects as symbols Huts Fire Fire cont’d represent the desire to preserve civilization; when Jack gains power they move into caves like the animals they have become. Fire its use divides civilization from savagery. Ralph uses it for hope; Jack for cooking. Fire cont’d It is Jack’s group that allows the fire (hope) to go out. Fire also symbolizes man’s potential for savagery, destroying the island completely, when uncontrolled, in the same way savagery consumes the boys as they hunt Ralph.

Objects as symbols Piggy’s glasses Night and Darkness They signify man’s ability to perceive, to think, and to ‘see.’ They also symbolize how intelligence can be misused for destructive purposes when Piggy’s glasses are used to smoke Ralph out. Night and Darkness an archetypal symbol of evil, “the powers of darkness.” The boys would have recognized the parachutist in the daylight, as would they have Simon. The beast is more real at night.

Objects as symbols Stick sharpened on both ends Face paint Represents how much evil has taken the boys over. First it was used to offer the beast the pig sacrifice; next to offer it Ralph’s. Face paint The paint helps the boys hide from their own consciences, turning them into anonymous savages who are freed from the restraints of “civilized” behavior.

Jack Jack, chief representative of evil in the novel, is too inhibited by society’s teachings to teachings to slay the piglet the first day, he later progresses to exhilaration in his first kill.

…Jack Eventually he comes to kill for the sheer thrill of slaughter rather than the need for meat, and this becomes the motive for hunting.

Ralph Ralph is a tall, blond twelve year old, establishes himself as the leader of the boys when he blows the conch shell to call the first assembly. Throughout the story, he struggles to maintain order and is forced to compete with Jack for respect.