Throughout William Golding's most popular novel, Lord of the Flies, many objects, actions, and themes are very symbolic of certain thinks. Golding uses these symbols to enrich the story for readers, by allowing them to develop their own point of view on what he is writing about. Perhaps one of the most prominent symbols throughout the book are Piggy's glasses. The glasses themselves are crucial to the plot and character development to begin with, making them significant enough with that point alone. However, there is also lots of symbolism behind them. The glasses represent intelligence, education, and rationality, and clear thought. Finally, the glasses also change in many ways throughout the story, both physically and metaphorically.
Piggy's glasses, or “specs” as they are referred to in the story, contribute in many ways to both the plot and character development/descriptions, but their contribution to the boys' survival is probably the most important. Upon discovering themselves on the island, Piggy, and eventually almost all the other boys, realize the necessity for a signal to alert any adults in the area of their presence. After understanding this,they further recognize that they need a signal fire to aid in their discovery. The only problem with this ingenious plan is the lack of fire-starting equipment. Jack points to Piggy's glasses, and exclaims that they should "use them as burning glasses!" (Golding, pg 52). The problem with this newly created fire, however, is that it gives Jack and his band of hunters a reason to hunt (for the meat). They would be unable to cook the pigs otherwise. This is in a way ironic, as the fire is supposed to save the children, but the hunting that derives from it is the cause of a...
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... of the boys' ideas are all related to hunting and savagery. At the end of he novel, the glasses are smashed and Piggy dies, and the symbolism behind the glasses dies with it. These events throughout the story change the glasses, and as the glasses break down, so does rationality.
In conclusion, Piggy's glasses play a prominent role in the plot structure of the story, and was a key factor in Piggy's description. Not only is he attached to his glasses physically (he needs them to see), but he also shares similar symbolic characteristics with them. These include intelligence, education, rationality, and clear thought. The glasses also change in many ways throughout the story, starting out clean and whole, and finishing in pieces. William Golding's portrayal of these glasses clearly show how the specs are a significant and dynamic symbol.
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When Piggy’s glasses break in half, it symbolizes the boy's descent into savageness. Glasses, by definition¹, are “a pair of lenses used to correct or assist defective eyesight for an individual with vision problems.” Obviously, these glasses are only effective when the lenses are not broken, and this principle also applies in The Lord of the Flies. In The Lord of the Flies, the goal of the boys is to survive, and get rescued off of the island. To get rescued off of the island and therefore survive, Ralph decides that the boys need a fire, to make a smoke signal so passing ships or planes can spot them. They use the lenses of Piggy’s glasses to start this fire. When Jack lets this fire go out when he is out hunting for a pig, Ralph gets very angry, because the passing ship could have rescued them. This leads to the first fight as a result of the boy's’ newfound savageness. This fight leads to Piggy’s glasses breaking for the first time. Piggy’s glasses break again when Jack’s group steals them in a bid to start a fire of their own. “I just take the conch to say this. I can’t see no more and I got to get my glasses back.
Thesis Statement: William Golding represents the value of Piggy's glasses in Lord of the Flies through clarity, hope and intelligence, even though the glasses are broken, they still work.
...ally it shows us that this was not a place intended for human life. By the end of the novel they have set the entire island on fire. Piggy’s glasses breaking means that he cannot see the world as he once did, and that his insight is slowly fading. Piggy however remains himself until his death.
Piggy’s physical description is an enormous factor in the book. Although his physical appearance doesn't change throughout the book it continues to affect him until the end. In the beginning
The book Lord of the Flies has changing symbolic values in objects and places. These values reflect humanity's nature to become savage. This is demonstrated by the symbols in their mirroring of the boys. In Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, the meaning of symbols evolve throughout the story with the conch standing for civilization and then the breakdown of order in society, Piggy’s specs meaning knowledge then Jack’s power, and the fire first representing hope then ultimately destruction.
One night Jack and two of his tribe members raid the huts of Ralph, Piggy and Samneric. They stole Piggy's glasses, which only had one glass anyway, now making him blind in both eyes. The next day Ralph, Piggy and Samneric travel to the other side of the Island to get the glasses back.
-Piggy is still naïve to the point where he believes that Jack will give back his glasses just because it is the right thing to do, emphasizing Piggy’s lack of social skills. I wonder if Piggy will actually say these things to Jack? I personally hope not, as I think it will get him in a lot of trouble.
These glasses are very symbolic. They don’t just represent Piggy, but all the boys and how they must survive on the island although they do not realize its importance yet. When Piggy first came to the island, his glasses were spotless and perfect with no damage, just like the boys were. Each one came to the island as someone else and left completely changed. They represent intelligence and intellectual pursuit. Piggy is probably the brightest of the stranded boys on the island in Lord of the Flies, and his glasses help to set him apart from the others. He’s symbolized as a grown-up figure that has common sense. He is the most rational boy in the group; making his glasses also symbolize logical reasoning within society. But he was completely disrespected as Jacks says in the novel, “ ‘you’re talking too much fatty.’ ” (Golding 18) The glasses don’t just represent Piggy and what he stands for, but for everyone else as
Piggy's specs are the boys' only way to starting a fire; they were a symbol of intelligence, until they went savage and lost their humanity. William Golding writes, "Jack pointed suddenly. 'His specs-use them as burning glasses!' Piggy was surrounded before he could back away," (Golding 40). Piggy is known to be the smartest boy of all the boys on the island, but Jack was the one who surprisingly pointed out that Piggy's glasses would be able to ignite a fire. At this point, the boys are still civilized and they are still trying to use the only knowledge they contain to survive. Glasses are usually a symbol of intelligence, even in today's society. Where as if a person wears glasses, then they are most likely to be labeled as "smart". Piggy's
In William Golding’s book Lord of the Flies, Piggy’s specs symbolize the boys’ survival. These specs were used to create a fire, which is essential to preparing food and keeping warm. For example, in the second chapter when the boys were on the mountaintop, they needed a way to create a spark which would be used to feed a fire. When they were brainstorming, Jack suggested, “His specs-use them as burning glasses!” (Page 40) This shows that with Piggy’s specs, they could used the magnification as a heat source. This not only could be used for signaling someone, but used as a way to cook meat and other raw items. Another example was when Jack and the choir were too busy hunting to tend to the fire. When Ralph confronted Jack, he said, “Piggy’s
The kids' fear of not being rescued from the island led the group to the top of the mountain to make signal fires. They used Piggy's glasses in order to make that fire:
Piggy was the one boy in the novel who has all the knowledge. Despite his asthma and obese problem, Piggy never failed to contribute his cerebral and intelligent ideas. He came up with all the ideas on how to survive and tried to keep the group organized and civilized. The glasses of Piggy symbolized his knowledge and smartness.
Piggy beside his glasses symbolizes science and intelligence. Jack, the painted faces, long hair and the naked kids represent wildness and violence, names some of the characters are symbols also, Piggy's name, which considers as a weak animal and in fat the character as well is the week to ( overweight issues, eyesight). The conch also is another symbol, it related to Ralph and Piggy so it represents the order and civilization. The head is a physical symbol as well, it represents evil and the savagery that is inside every
Two important symbols of civilization, the conch and the glasses, are closely followed throughout the action. As the civilized life breaks up on the island, the glasses are broken and stolen, and the conch is crushed. Piggy, who wears the glasses and carries the conch, is killed.
There are many symbols throughout the story. One of the most important symbols is the conch. The conch is significant because it has a lot of power among the boys. For example it is used to determine who talks and is also used to call meetings. To me, it seems like money, whoever has the conch has the power, similar to our world. Another item that is important, are Piggy’s glasses. The glasses are used as a tool in several occasions. The glasses are used to build a fire. This shows that simple things can be used a tools. In addition, the glasses help Piggy see, which is their original use. The fire, which Piggy’s glasses create, represents life and a chance of survival. The only way anyone will see them is the smoke from the fire, which is