What Does It Mean to Say That Lord of the Flies Is an...

In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, there are many key characters, settings, objects and events that symbolise ideas much deeper than what is first perceived. It is these important symbols that make Lord of the Flies an allegorical novel. It is the constant struggle to maintain civilization and resist complying with the savage urges that rages within each human individual that plays a central theme throughout the novel. Significant objects like the conch and signal fire; plot events such as the pig hunts; the main characters and even Ralph’s hair are all symbols that have a grander meaning and transform this story into an allegorical novel. Throughout Lord of the Flies, the conch acts as a vessel of political legitimacy and†¦show more content†¦Once again, we find that savage human instinct has won out against their well-mannered, civilised upbringing. The idea of growing savagery could be seen in Ralph’s hair. What would have been a neatly trimmed style turned into a scrappy, unruly mop. Golding always makes a point to explain the inconvenience that Ralph’s hair gave him, whether it is in his eyes or simply complaining about the length. Getting a haircut is one of the advantages of civilization, many of which Ralph and the others have had to give up. It also reminds us that the boys have been on the island for a long time. The way that Golding writes about Ralphs hair gives the impression that it just keeps growing and growing, continuing to get even more matted and tangled. Much like the boys’ growing violence and the increasingly savage occurrences on the island. The main characters represent humanity as a whole. The island is the entire world and whilst the younger boys may be seen as the common people, the older boys represent the ruling classes and political leaders. Ralph represents order, leadership, and civilization. Piggy represents the scientific and intellectual aspects of civilization. Jack represents unbridled savagery and the hunger for power. Simon represents natural human goodness. Roger representsShow MoreRelatedEssay on Allegory in Lord of the Flies1473 Words   |  6 PagesAllegory in Lord of the Flies In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, which is set during World War II, English school boys, escaping war in England, crash on a deserted tropical island. From the protected environment of boarding school, the boys are suddenly thrust into a situation where they must fend for themselves. In order to survive, the boys copy their country’s rule for a civilized life by electing a leader, Ralph. He promises order, discipline, and rules for the boys so that they formRead MoreArchetype Analysis of Lord of the Flies2467 Words   |  10 Pageshis first writing Lord of the Flies, in which symbolism is wildly used and attributes lots of symbolic meanings to the characters and events. The story thus becomes vivid and profound. This paper aims at using Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung’s collective unconscious and archetypal theories to interpret the archetypes of characters, natural scenes and themes. Key words: symbolism, Lord of the Flies, collective unconscious, archetypal theory 0. Introduction Lord of the Flies is the masterpieceRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesï » ¿TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS The purpose of Text Interpretation and Analysis is a literary and linguistic commentary in which the reader explains what the text reveals under close examination. Any literary work is unique. It is created by the author in accordance with his vision and is permeated with his idea of the world. The reader’s interpretation is also highly individual and depends to a great extent on his knowledge and personal experience. That’s why one cannot lay down a fixed â€Å"model†