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“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding

“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding. What is the significant of Piggy’s spectacles throughout the novel Lord of the Flies? . Analysis of Piggy’s spectacles . Introduction of the spectacles .

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“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding

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  1. “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding What is the significant of Piggy’s spectacles throughout the novel Lord of the Flies? Analysis of Piggy’s spectacles

  2. Introduction of the spectacles “He came forward, searching out safe lodgments for his feet, and then looked up through thick spectacles.” pg. 12. Generally, you wouldn’t think this is such an important detail, but because of their symbolism in this case it is. The spectacles are an essential part of Piggy and his identity. “[Piggy] wiped his glasses and adjusted them on his button nose. The frame had made a deep, pink V on the bridge.” pg.13 As the novel goes by you start realizing how important his the symbol of the glasses for the story to develop. As fundamental is the spectacles for Piggy, as it is for the entire novel.

  3. CIVILIZATION KNOWLADGE HOPE DESTRUCTION

  4. The spectacles as a symbol of knowledge Through out the novel Piggy’s spectacles represent a symbol of advancement, of innovation and discovery. The symbol that the glasses are primarily intended to transmit is looking through. Looking = vision vision = sight sight= a metaphor for knowledge Piggy, with his spectacles, embodies the importance of intellect in the world. Piggy knows things that other boys don’t know and he sees things that others can’t see; he knew how use the conch, he realizes that the boys are acting rashly with the early lighting of the fire, he sees the necessity for laws and order and to be compact as a single unit group. When they took Piggy’s glasses away it’s when he gets lost because he can’t see anymore and seeing it’s Piggy’s best attribute, it’s what makes him useful to the rest of the group. Without being able to look anymore, he also lost his vision, his sight, and his knowledge, which make him useless, something that no one wants to be. “He was a chief now in truth; and made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses.” pg. 168

  5. The spectacles as a symbol of civilization and “His specs-use them as burning glasses!” pg 52. In the chapter, the spectacles are used by the boys to make fire so that they can be seen by some ship or plane and get rescued. At this point the glasses symbolize an attachment to civilization and society because fire tends to be associated with a civilized society. When piggy’s spectacle gets broken it’s when the boys are in danger of losing touch with the civilized world they’ve left behind. With one lent broken they are one foot over the line. The spectacles as a symbol of hope and destruction. They were only able to make the fire because of Piggy's specs, so if they didn't have it, they probably would never be rescued. In this case the spectacles represent hope and salvation because by using them they could have make the fire that would have got them rescued. “Piggy took back his glasses and looked at the smoke with pleasure.” pg. 162 The spectacles becomes the most ultimate power on the island. On the other hand when the children grow restless, the fire goes out of control and the spectacles are not seen anymore as a media to hope but it now began to be a symbol of distraction. The spectacle are a technology representation of both salvation and destruction.

  6. Allegory & Symbolism

  7. Allegory vs Symbolism Allegory: Piggy’s glasses express the eventual and unavoidable decline of mankind, such as the detachment from civilization,when faced with terms of survival. Symbol: Piggy’s glasses symbolize intellect, civilization as well as hope and distruction.

  8. Throughout the novel, Golding associates the instinct of civilization with good and the instinct of savagery with evil. His idea is to constantly convey he contrast between civilization and savagery, order and chaos, reason and impulse, law and anarchy, and the main contrast between what's good vs. evil. The conflict between the two instincts is the driving force of the novel, and it is also represented trough the symbol of the glasses. When the spectacle is used carefully, the boys can use it to their advantage to do great things, this is when the glasses represent civilization, good, law, order and hope. Though once the spectacle is broken and its power is underestimated, this is when it start to convey the ideas of savagery, chaos, evil and destruction. Another messages transmitted by the novel is trough the allegory of Piggy’s spectacle. Golding establishes how society regards intellect. It is something that is considered as unimportant. Power undermines intellect in the society of mankind just as it does in Lord of the Flies

  9. WORCK CITED: Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. 3rd ed. N.p.: Faber and Faber, 1963. Print. "Lord of the Flies Symbolism, Imagery & Allegory." Shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. "Lord of the Flies." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. Marijane Suttor. "Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, as an Allegorical Novel." Helium. N.p., 2 Aug. 2008. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.

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