Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Period # 4
January 9, 2011
Good versus evil, reason versus instinct. Lord of the Flies implies that human
morality can be overruled by the instinct of survival. Ralph, Piggy, and Simon reach for
civilization from the start of Golding’s novel. On the other hand, Jack, Roger and their
tribe seek power and the ambition of survival. The characters and objects of Lord of the
Flies precisely embody the novels motifs and morals, thus, making Lord of the Flies an
allegorical novel.
Ralph’s search for civilization is overpowered by Jack and his tribe’s instinct for
survival. Golding uses Ralph to represent civilization in the island. Ralph builds shelters
and even uses a conch in which its holder has permission to speak. This conch directly
symbolized democracy within the boys of the island. Both Ralph and the conch
Jack and his tribe seek one thing. Survival. Jack is determined to survive by any
means necessary. He robs piggy of his glasses, he abandons the fire to go hunt, and he
sets up his tribe of hunters. Jack and Roger’s instinct for survival represent the evil
within mankind.
Piggy’s glasses play a vital role in the island. Not only do his glasses represent
civilization as well but they also symbolize power. The glasses were needed to make
fires on the island and fires were needed to keep warm and cook food. When Piggy’s
glasses are smashed it represented the end of civilization and intelligence and marked
The democracy within the conch, the intelligence within the glasses, the cruelty
within Jack and the morality within Ralph directly embody Lord of the Flies themes and
morals. The symbolism within these characters and objects make Lord of the Flies an
allegorical novel.