Essay/Term paper: Symbolic in lotf

Essay, term paper, research paper:  English Papers

Imagine a bunch of young children's lives changed by being trapped on a island with no civilization around. William Golding shows how terrifying it can be in Lord Of The Flies, the novel that brings symbolism above all to the emotions of all that read it. The symbols that bring out the meaning the best are the leadership skills, the fire and the conch. First, are the leadership skills, as are shown in the book, Ralph has. Ralph in the novel has many ideas, leadership skills, and has the force he needs to create a better place and try to get them all home. There are three major quotes that prove that Ralph has what it takes. This first one shows he has good ideas and can enforce what he thinks should happen. "Shut up," said Ralph absently. He lifted the conch. "Seem to me we ought to have a chief to decide things(#22)." He also shows he can be a good chief and make them listen with a wave of a hand. "Ralph smiled and held up the conch for silence(#23)." Lastly, when Ralph blows the conch, as though a force is pulling them nearer, the children go to him. "By the time Ralph had finished blowing the conch the platform was crowded(#32)."



Next, one of the bigger symbols is the fire. Enforcing the rules is one thing, but the children would rather play than keep the fire going. Ralph gives the idea for the fire, but can they keep it going? " There's another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they might not notice us. We must make a fire(#38)." Jack has a great idea to use Piggy's glasses to light the fire." Jack pointed suddenly. "His specs-use them as burning glasses (#40)!"



Jack has a obsession of hunting and it turns to the choir as well. They have the responsibility to keep the fire going, but they get side tracked, go hunting and the fire goes out. "There was a ship. Out there. You said you'd keep the fire going and you let it out!" He took a step towards Jack who turned and faced him. "They might have seen us. We might have gone home(#70)." As you can see a bunch of children are not ready for that kind of responsibility. Finally is the conch, it shows the start of a civilization and rules, but the children can't make a civilized place without order which they don't have. Piggy knew what the conch was at first and knew they should blow on it but all was taken credit for by Ralph. When they first found it Ralph thought it was a stone in the water but Piggy saw it as the shell and explained what he knew about it. "A stone." "No. A shell." Suddenly Piggy was a-bubble with decorous excitement. " S'right. It's a shell! I seen one like that before. On someone's back wall. A conch he called it. He used to blow it and then his mum would come. It's ever so valuable-(#15)." The shell emits a deep harsh note boomed. Ralph was amazed at the sound. "Gosh!(#17)." He was amazed at the sound. It was a calling of the islands children. Later in the story, everyone would be talking at the same time so Ralph said he would give it to a person and they were the only ones to speak. "Conch?" "That's what this shell's called. I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he's speaking (#33)."



Golding does a magnificent job of symbolism in his novel. Already proven are three of the main symbols. Golding brings emotion, thought, and symbolism together in Lord Of The Flies. Those kid's lives were severed, some lives perished, others dreaded by the nightmares of their memories.