Lord of the Flies Allegory: A form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. Thus, it represents one thing in the guise of another—an abstraction in that of a concrete image.

Huh? Let’s use an example that may be familiar to you: "There are obvious layers of allegory [in the movie Avatar]. The Pandora woods is a lot like the Amazon rainforest (the movie stops in its tracks for a heavy ecological speech or two), and the attempt to get the Na'vi to 'cooperate' carries overtones of the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan." (Owen Gleiberman, review of Avatar. Entertainment Weekly, Dec. 30, 2009)

Time to look at a few allegorical interpretations of LOTF.

LOTF as a Moral Allegory Ralph (common sense) tries to balance Piggy (intellect), Jack (emotions), and Simon (soul) and fails thus, plunging the world into chaos and turning himself into a brute.

LOTF as Social Allegory Ralph (government) tries to balance Piggy (technology), and Simon (humanism) but fails as power (Jack) warps technology, destroys humanism, and attempts to abolish government.

LOTF as a Psychological Allegory Jack (id) reflects the part of the personality concentrated on unorganized, instinctual impulses. If unbridled, it seeks immediate gratification of primitive needs. Ralph (ego) corresponds to the perceived self, the controlling self that holds back the impulsiveness of the id in the effort to delay gratification until it can be displayed in socially approved ways. Ex: Tuxedo Shirt. Piggy (superego) corresponds most nearly to conscience, controlling through moral scruples rather than by way of social expediency. The superego is said to be an uncompromising and punishing conscience.

Religious Allegory Ralph (Everyman), with hope of salvation, demeans Piggy (intellect) and cannot understand Simon (spiritual truth); in fact, Ralph helps to kill Simon because of his physical appetites and his desire to consort with violence and thrill seeking, which he has allowed to flourish by letting Jack (unreasoning carnality) corrupt the choir. Ralph cringes hopelessly and helplessly, a fallen creature, as hell fires advance.

Simon as Christ Figure Simon is different: he is laughed at, derided, rejected Simon is the original name of the apostle Peter – Greek Petros meaning rock. Simon’s little chapel is a rock – he gives Ralph faith he will be saved while standing on a rock Simon supports Ralph not Jack. He helps, he builds Simon is not afraid because he knows the “beast” does not exist as a physical manifestation. He has no evil in him therefore does not fear the “beast.”

Simon (contd.) Simon stands between Ralph and Jack, between good and evil, yet he does not interfere – Free will When Ralph says, “Oh God, Oh God,” Simon answers him. He later answers Ralph’s thoughts when Simon says “You’ll get back.” He feeds the children He is tempted, as if by the devil, to forget the truth and join the others. He climbs the mountain to get the truth (Moses may come to mind here) He returns with the truth but is killed by the boys He ascends to heaven (Pay attention to Golding’s imagery)