Lord of the Flies Symbolism

1. Lord of the Flies Symbolism By: Cameron Igawa Abhinand Veerabahu Robby Cronstedt Evan Flores

2. The Significance of Beelzebub • Beelzebub represents pure evil that resides within each of the boys. He is a demon that lives in hell and in the book he is symbolized by The Lord of the Flies. The sow’s head that was impaled upon a stick by Jack Merridew is the representation of Beelzebub on the island. After Jack created The Lord of the Flies, the evil in the boys comes out in different ways. In a literal translation, The Lord of the Flies literally translates into the name Beelzebub; a dangerous demon that lives in the underworld symbolizing the evil that the severed pig head represents.

3. Symbolic Beelzebub Quotes • “High over head, Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment leaned all of his weight on the lever.” (Golding 180) • This quote proves that Beezlebub or the presence of pure evil is alive in Roger as he has no remorse or guilt about heaving the huge boulder on Piggy, therefore killing him. Before the savage instinct inside all of the boys arose, none of them would have been violent enough to kill one of the other boys as brutally as Roger killed Piggy. • “ See? See? That’s what you’ll get! I meant that! There isn’t a tribe for you anymore!” (Golding 181) • After Roger killed Piggy with the big boulder, Jack, the leader of the savages shows that he does not have sympathy about killing Piggy either. With the language Jack uses it appears that he has no remorse for Piggy’s death and makes it seem that Roger had the intention to actually kill Piggy. It also reveals that Jack is not afraid to kill any of the boys on the island.

4. Beelzebub Quotes Continued • “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!” (Golding 152) The sticks fell and the mouth of the new circle crunched and screamed…The beast struggled forward, broke the ring, and fell over the steep edge of the rock to the sand by the water. At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt on the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. • This passage shows the effect that Beelzebub or the evil he represents can have combined with a mob mentality. Together, the boys are convinced that Simon is the beast, and they tear and claw at him until he finally dies. After the boys realize what they have done, it is too late, and even then few boys acknowledge the fact that together they actually killed Simon.

5. Beelzebub Pictures

6. The Significance of The Lord of the Flies • The Lord of the Flies, one of the most recognized symbols in the novel is represented by the bloody severed head of the mother pig that Jack slaughtered along with the hunters. After Jack impales the head upon a stick as a sacrifice for the beast, many of the flies from around the island are attracted to the decaying flesh and surround the head making it appear to be a head completely composed of flies. This complicated symbol can only truly be seen by Simon, and the Lord of the Flies even speaks to him promising to have some fun with him. Eventually the Lord of the Flies becomes both a physical symbol of the beast which symbolizes power, and a symbol of the inner evil which lies inside each of the boys on the island.

7. Lord of the Flies Quotes • The Lord of the Flies is the consequence of the negative energy emitting from all the boys on the island. “The half-shut eyes were dim with the infinite cynicism of adult life.” (137) • The Lord of the Flies becomes a physical manifestation of the beast, a symbol of the power of evil, as well as a kind of Satan figure who evokes the beast within each human being. “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?” (143) • When Simon confronts the Lord of the Flies he tampers with Simon’s mind. The Lord of the Flies drags him into the web of sins spun by the Id of the boys. “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast.” (143)

8. Lord of the Flies Quotes Continued • During the conversation between the Lord of the Flies and Simon, there are parts which indicate an impending doom for the boys. “This is ridiculous. You know perfectly well you’ll only meet me down there – so don’t try to escape!” (143) • Not only does the Lord of the Flies specify the awaiting peril for the boys, he also disparages Simon’s behavior. The Lord of the Flies inquires Simon about whether he wants to be known as “batty” or not. • Lastly, when the phantom of the Lord of the Flies is expanding, he warns Simon not to try to do anything heroic. Also, the Lord of the Flies indirectly divulges a bitter end for Simon. After this, Simon faints and the specter disappears. “You’re not wanted. Understand. We are going to have fun on this island…..So don’t try it on, my poor misguided boy, or else -” (144)

9. Lord of the Flies Pictures

10. The Symbolism of Piggy’s Specs • Throughout the entire book of the Lord of the Flies, those who represent reason and intelligence, such as Ralph and Piggy, all exercise the importance of being rescued. Piggy’s glasses, which would seem to only represent the tool to light a fire for the children, represent a glimmer of hope on this unfortunate island. Piggy’s glasses are used to start a fire to create a smoke signal, which helps the boys believe a ship passing by may take note of it. This symbolically represents how the glasses represent hope of rescue and survival for the children, when they are intelligently used. As Jack and his hunters stole Piggy’s glasses during the night raid, they not only stole the means of warmth and comfort, but they also took Ralph and followers’ hope away from them. Without these glasses, the boys are left hopeless on an isolated island, as now no one would know they were there without a smoke signal to follow.  

11. Specs Symbolism Quotes • "Occasionally they sang softly; occasionally they turned cartwheels down by the moving streak of phosphorescence. The chief led them, trotting steadily exulting his achievement. He was a chief now in truth; and he made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggy's broken glasses" (Golding 168) • In this scene Jack is pictured triumphantly returning to his base on the other side of the island, holding Piggy’s broken glasses. He walks away with not only Piggy’s eyesight, but with the little hope Ralph and his now few followers had of survival. Their only source of hope, of “light” on a “dark” island, has now been crushed, which is symbolically represented not only with them being stolen, but also in them being broken.

12. Specs Quotes Continued • "Jack pointed suddenly."His specs-use them as burning glasses!"" (Golding 40) • This quote describes the glasses being put to use by the children on the island. In this quote, they will be used to create a fire, making the glasses a theme for the rest of the book, representing survival and rescue for the children. Symbolically, the glasses being used to create a fire that the children desperately need, represents intelligence, as it was the most beneficial discovery discovered throughout the entire book.

13. Specs Symbolism Quotes Continued • "Piggy's specs!" shouted Ralph. "If the fire's all out, we'll need them-" " (Golding 167) • This quote occurs during the scene when the boys notice a ship passing by, making them concerned that the fire is out. This shows how Piggy’s glasses are the only hope of survival for the boys, as without them they will go unnoticed, just as they did for a while after this scene. Symbolically representing survival, Piggy’s glasses are a major theme of the book as mainly Ralph and Jack fight over the importance of them.

14. Piggy’s Specs

15. Castle Rock Symbolism • Castle rock is a safe shelter for the boys. It has soft land, but contains no food. Castle rock is easy to defend and provides a safe haven for Jack and his hunters once they split from Ralph’s group. Towards the end of the book when Ralph leads Piggy and Samneric to Castle Rock to get back Piggy’s glasses, Piggy dies when Roger heaves a giant boulder onto Piggy which ended up killing him. Ironically, at Castle Rock which is supposed to be a safe place for the boys, both the death of Piggy and the death of Simon occur here.

16. Castle Rock Symbolism Quotes • “He was surrounded on all sides by a chasm of empty air. There was nowhere to hide, even if one did not have to go on. The lagoon protected them from the Pacific.” (Golding 105) • The fact that there was nowhere to hide makes the boys feel secure that the beast could not be hiding on castle rock. This quote illustrates the symbolism of Castle Rock; Castle Rock symbolizes safety and in this part of the novel it makes the boys feel safe. • “"Ralph stood now, one hand against an enormous red block, a block large as a mill wheel that had been split off and hung, tottering." (Golding 120) • The rock that Ralph was leaning on was the same rock that Roger used to kill Piggy with.

17. Castle Rock Pictures

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