| The Lord of the Flies contains many examples of symbolism which Golding has incorporated to show a deeper level to the main, mostly straightforward, storyline that reveals his thoughts on the nature of humanity and evil. |
Lord of the Flies contains many examples of symbolism that Golding incorporated to show a deeper level to the main plot, especially direct, which reveals his thoughts on the nature of humanity and evil. |
| Below are some of the main symbols used in the book, but there are plenty more for you to discover yourself. |
Below are some of the main symbols used in the book, but there are many more for you to discover for yourself |
| Among such symbols may be included such small or natural seeming events like the coral reef, (Submarine warfare, surrounding of Britain by German U-boats?) or the "great fire", which may represent the first world war, ("We shall never commit to this savagery again"). |
These symbols may include small or natural events such as the coral reef (submarine warfare, surrounding Britain by German U-boats?) or the "great fire", which may represent the first world war, ("We must never engage in this savagery again"). |
| Blood is another symbol Golding uses extensively, although what he uses it for is open to interpretation. |
Blood is another symbol that Golding uses extensively, although what he uses is open to interpretation.
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| The different styles of leadership shown by Jack and Ralph symbolize democracy and dictatorship, much like as depicted in George Orwell's Animal Farm where he used pigs to symbolize the USSR's communist leaders. |
The different leadership styles shown by Jack and Ralph symbolize democracy and dictatorship, much like the one described in George Orwell's Animal Farm, where he used pigs to symbolize the communist leaders of the USSR.
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| The imaginary beast that frightens all the boys stands for the primal instinct of savagery that exists within all human beings. |
The imaginary beast that scares all the boys represents the primitive instinct of savagery that exists within all human beings.
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| The boys are afraid of the beast, but only Simon reaches the realization that they fear the beast because it exists within each of them. |
The boys are afraid of the beast, but only Simon realizes that they fear the beast because it exists within each of them.
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| As the boys grow more savage, their belief in the beast grows stronger. |
As the boys grow wilder, their belief in the beast grows stronger |
| By the end of the novel, the boys are leaving it sacrifices and treating it as a totemic god. |
By the end of the novel, the boys are leaving the sacrifice and treating it like a totemic god.
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| The boys’ behavior is what brings the beast into existence, so the more savagely the boys act, the more real the beast seems to become. |
The boys' behavior is what brings the beast into existence, so the more savagely the boys act, the more real the beast seems to become. |
| The boys "become" the beast when they kill Simon. |
The boys "become" the beast when they kill Simon. |
| Golding describes the savages' behavior as animal like; the savages dropped their spears (man's tool) and "screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws." |
Golding describes the behavior of the savages as animal-like; the savages dropped their spears (man's tool) and "screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words and no movement but pulling teeth and claws." |
