Discuss Golding’s presentation of Simon. What is his role within the novel?

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Throughout the novel, Lord of the Flies, Golding presents Simon as a diverse character, distant from the other boys. Although he arrives with the choirboys, the reader soon learns that Simon is separate and solitary from them due to his different approach to the situation they have been placed in. Simon is a character based upon high morals. Additionally, Simon manages to stay civilised until his death, unlike his fellow companions showing us that he is strong-minded and willing to take on a challenge. Reflecting on the novel, there are four main ways that Golding presents Simon, each accompanied by a role that Simon undertakes on the island. These characteristics are physically weak, mentally powerful, prophetic and in touch with nature.

Firstly, Golding presents Simon as a character who is physically weak. From the very beginning, the author shows his vulnerability to the reader by making Simon faint; ‘then one of the boys flopped on his face in the sand.’ One of the other choirboys makes it clear to the reader that this is not just a one off occasion by telling Jack that ‘he’s always throwing a faint.’ His weakness is further displayed in assemblies; Simon has many ideas and beliefs that he would like to share with the rest of the boys yet his physical weakness prevents him. Golding presents him as apprehensive through the use of ellipsis in his speech, for example, ‘But…’ ‘What I mean is…maybe it’s only us…’ ’We could be sort of…’ This presents him as a hesitant and nervous speaker and in doing this Simon loses respect from the other boys and is therefore considered weak by them.

In contrast to this, Simon is shown to have great mental power. Using his mental strength and intelligence he remains civilised, whereas the other...

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...elf is saying goodbye to its friend, Simon. The author uses Simon to embody the trait of serenity. He is also used to illustrate to the reader the connection between man and nature. Golding tries to teach us how we can benefit from each other if we treat each other well.

In conclusion, Golding presents Simon as a boy who is prophet-like, mentally powerful and at one with nature. These traits added together give us a goodhearted boy who knows his right from wrong and tries to stick to it as much as possible. The role of Simon in Lord of the Flies is to represent the good traits of the human, which the other boys begin to loose as the book unveils. Overall, Golding tries to show us that not everyone is evil and that there is good in every situation. However by the death of Simon, Golding could be trying to warn the reader that evil overpowers good in this society.

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