Lord of the Flies symbols

THE CONCH SHELL
1. symbolises democratic power, freedom of speech
  1. used to call meetings
2. powerful symbol of order and influence among boys, sense of moral authority
3. maintains authority of civilisation against twisted hidden nature of the boys
  1. "laid the conch with great care in the grass at his feet"
4. as boys descend into savagery, loses its power + influence
  1. "the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist
    1. demise of the civilised instinct among boys
  2. "we don't need the conch anymore"
  3. "the shape of the old assembly... listened to him"
FIRE
1. connection to civilisation, symbolises responsibility
2. measurement of the strength of the civilised instinct
3. When the fire burns low or goes out, boys have lost sight of desire to be rescued + accepted their savage lives on island
4. "a clean flag of flame"
5. "ought to - ought to die before we let the fire out"
6. threatens destruction if gets out of control
PIGGY'S GLASSES
1. power of science + intelligence
  1. symbolically significant - used to start the fire
2. represents hope + rescue
  1. represents mankind's power to transform environment to suit needs
3. "his specs - use them as burning glasses!"
LORD OF THE FLIES
1. severed sow head on stake, offering to beast
2. symbol of power and evil
3. physical manifestation of the beast
4. Satan figure evokes beast within humans, translation of name of the biblical name Beelzebub, a demon
5. " You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? ... Why things are the way they are?
6. BEAST
  1. boys behaviour brings beast into existence
  2. as boys become more savage, belief in beast stronger
  3. primal instinct of savagery that exists within all human beings, afraid
  4. "Maybe there is a beast… maybe it's only us.”
  5. "a creature that bulged"
  6. worship like a god, require their obedience, submitence
ISLAND
1. scar is physical representation of destruction of boys
  1. symbol of the savagery that exists in human nature
  2. Garden of Eden,paradise ruined by human faults
    1. "long scar smashed into the jungle"
      1. slowly degenerates, wasteland, bearing punishment for all violent acts committed by boys
    2. "green light and the glossy patches of sunshine played over their befouled bodies"
    3. utopian existence, glamorous appeal
      1. "shimmering water"
2. symbolises unconscious, thoughts + desires deep within humans.
  1. "he stares at the ocean and thinks how big it is"

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Lord of the Flies symbols

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	Created by Somto Ibeme about 6 years ago