Lord of the Flies Symbolism By: Anthony Vargas Bryan McCann Ian Sellar Jared Tate Patrick Warren IDEA English Mr. Mooney Period 1

The Scar I The plane that the children were in was shot down. When it went down, it crashed through the trees, causing a huge wreck and making a “scar” that runs through the island. The scar symbolizes the destruction that man causes without even trying. It is also a memorial of how they became stranded on the island, alone and hopeless.

The Scar II “Jack pointed down, ‘That’s where we landed.’ Beyond falls and cliffs, there was a gash visible in the trees; there were the splintered trunk and then the drag, leaving only a fringe of palm between the scar and the sea.” (Golding 28) The words “cliffs”, “gash”, and “splintered” use cacophony to display the harshness of the scene and the severity of human influence on nature. “All around him the long scar smashed into the jungle…” (Golding 1) With the use of the word “smashed”, Golding emphasizes the violence with which the boys were thrust onto the island.

The Id I In Freudian psychology, the id is part of the subconscious that embodies the chaotic animal instinct. It is the nature of man that becomes more apparent as they spend more time on the island. The id does not symbolize anything, but many things on the island are symbolic of the id. Roger, Jack, and the savages manifest their id through their hunting and war paint.

The Id II “Jack planned his new face. He made one cheek and one eye socket white, then he rubbed red over the other half of his face and slashed a black bar of charcoal across, from right ear to the left jaw. He looked in the pool for his reflection… he looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger… His laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling… The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid.” (Golding 62-63) The paint allows Jack to escape his civilized form and embody the id.

The Id III “At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.” (Golding 136) The asyndeton here portrays the id’s affect on the tribe’s self control and order. Everything happens quickly, precipitously, without thought.

The Fire I The fire is necessary for cooking and preparing meat, but it also destroys. It also destroys, as seen later in the story. The fire symbolizes many different things throughout the story. The fire is first seen as salvation and security. Ralph and the other boys strongly believe that the fire was only the way to get rescued. “The fire is the most important thing on the island. How can we ever be rescued except by luck, if we don’t keep a fire going?” (Golding 80)

The Fire Part II The fire also symbolizes destruction. In the beginning, the fire devastates the island when it escapes the boys’ control. It kills one of the littluns and burns acres of the island. “Acres of black and yellow smoke rolled steadily toward the sea. At the sight of the flames and the irresistible course of the fire, the boys broke into shrill, excited cheering. The flames, as though they were a kind of wildlife, crept as a jaguar creeps on its belly toward a line of birch-like saplings that fledged an outcrop of the pink rock.” (Golding 44)

Fire Part III Lastly, even if the kids did not want to admit it, the fire was a symbol of hope and protection. “We don’t want another night without without fire. [Ralph] looked around guiltily at the three boys standing by. This was the first time he had admitted the double function of the fire. Certainly one was to send up a beckoning column of smoke; but the other was to be a hearth now and a comfort until the slept.” (Golding 162)

The Fire Part IV “The fire is the most important thing. Without the fire we can’t be rescued. I’d like to put on war paint and be a savage. But we must keep the fire burning. The fire is the most important thing on the island…” (Golding 126) As long as the fire is burning, it keeps the boys civilized and prevents their id from surfacing. Fire symbolizes all civilization, order, and a chance of survival. Also, the importance of the fire, according to the boys, declines as the boys feel less of a need to be rescued.

The Mock Hunt I The mock hunt is where the hunters and Ralph are hunting the east and the boar ruches by, injuring Jack. Ralph is able to strike the beast with his spear, and in his excitement, he constantly reminds the others of his personal victory. The boys throw Robert into the ring, which begins to chant and dance as their id surfaces.

The Mock Hunt II “Robert snarled at him. Ralph entered into the play and everybody laughed. Presently they were all jabbing at Robert who made mock rushes. Jack shouted, ‘Make a ring!’ The circle moved in and round. Robert squealed in mock terror, then in real pain. ‘Ow! Stop it! You’re hurting!’ The butt end of a spear fell on his back as he blundered among them. ‘Hold him!’ They got his arms and legs. Ralph, carried away by a sudden, thick excitement, grabbed Eric’s spear and jabbed at Robert with it.” (Golding 114)

The Mock Hunt III The mock hunt is a perfect symbol of the id. Even the symbol of rationality, Ralph, gets so caught up with the whole ordeal that he himself loses his innocence, and for a moment, becomes a savage.

Conclusion I The scar from their plane crash represents their arrival on the island as civilized humans. After a short time, the fire becomes their only protection from themselves, each other, and the id. The mock hunt begins as a playful game, but soon escalates to a loss of innocence and represents the id’s progress within them. “…Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called…”

Conclusion II …Cameron’s laptop. (Golding 182) “All things truly wicked start from an innocence.” Ernest Hemingway

Bibliography Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin Books, "Google Image Search." Google Images Jan Phillips, Brian. SparkNote on Lord of the Flies. 22 Jan