A Christ-Like Figure in Lord of the Flies

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A Christ-like figure is when an author develops allusions between their characters in their story to Jesus Christ. In Lord of The Flies the author William Golding describes parallels Simon to Jesus. Simon is one of the major characters in Lord of The Flies and he is given characteristics and a physical appearance that relates to Jesus Christ. Simon also has a similar personality and helps the weaker one in the group. Simon also experiences the devil in his journeys when he wandered in the jungle. Simon is the only “natural good” character in the story and possess many Christ-like characteristics.

Simon is described to be very skinny, not a strong person, and too have long hair. He is also intelligent and very determined with it comes to completing tasks. Another attribute that Simon has that parallels him being a Christ-like figure is that Simon helps the weaker and smaller boys in the survival group on the island. In chapter three Simon helps the “littleuns” pick fruit from the tree. “Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands” (Golding page 51). Jesus also feeds with bread and fish and also helps poor individuals and sick people. Both Jesus and Simon withdraw themselves from society. After Simon helped the “littleuns” collect fruit he went and wandered into the jungle by himself. “Simon turned away from them and went where the just perceptible path led him. Soon high jungle closed in. He looked over his shoulder and glanced swiftly round to confirm that he was utterly alone" (Golding page 51). In many circumstances Jesus did the same thing. In Luke 5:16 it says that he “withdrew himself into the wilderness, and pr...

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...ent stories of the Bible from Jesus Christ and interpreted them with Simon. The most biblical reference out of the novel is when Simon wandered off into the jungle. There Simon finds the devil that tempts him to join Jack and his group of hunters. Simon saved the boys of the group by sacrificing himself. Out of the group of the surviving boys Simon is Jesus. He tried every way possible to help the group anyway he could. When Simon died he is floated out in the ocean with his arms out. Golding describes that a group of glowing fish surrounded Simon’s body in the ocean and formed a halo around him. This can only tell us that Simon is the true savior of the group.

Works Cited

Golding, William. Lord of The Flies. New York: Wideview/Perigee Book, 1954. Print.
Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor. New York: Harper Collins Books, 2003. Print.

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