Fire In Lord Of The Flies Symbolism Essay

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.
The meaning behind the conch shifts throughout the story. It begins as a symbol for order and civilization, as exemplified by Piggy when he states, “We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us.” , and becoming

over time a meaningless object without jurisdiction(Golding 16). In this instance with Piggy the conch is integral to contacting and working together. The conch represents civilization and order. The conch is the only tool capable of communicating with the whole island to call a meeting. Jack’s tribe later destroys the conch revealing it’s new meaning, “The conch exploded into a thousand white fragments.” (Golding 181). This shows that the conch is no longer important to life on the island as it once was. The boys reject civilization’s rules and security for savagery. Jack’s wild reign is based on his tribe having no rules and being fun. This is only possible when Jack delegitimizes the conch’s authority to turn the boys to savages. Making the conch meaningless. However, the conch is not the only symbol changed for savagery.
Under Ralph, Piggy’s specs begin as a symbol of knowledge for hope and survival, but shift to embody Jack’s authoritarian power as chief. Chapter 2 states, “His specs – use them as burning glasses!”( Golding 40). This shows that the glasses are a major technological advancement for the boys that greatly improves their lives. This kind of knowledge can benefit everyone and help them escape the island. This eventually changes when Jack seizes control of the island. The author writes, “ He was a chief now in truth … From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses.”(Golding 168). Jack is now in possession of power represented by Piggy’s glasses. The glasses allow him to create fire an innovation for the wise and weapon for the savage. Jack is now Chief because, like Ralph he now holds the only means to start a fire and be rescued. However, Jack has a different plan for his fire.
The rescue fire begins as a symbol for hope of escape and safety, but became a powerful weapon representing death and destruction.

Page seventy-one states, “There was a ship out there you said you’d keep the fire going and you let it out!”(Golding). This shows that they believe that the fire will help them escape the island and the boys desperately cling to the hope fire provides. However, as the story concludes the fire takes on a different meaning: “The whole island was shuddering with flame” (Golding 201). This dark and powerful portrayal of the fire describes a weapon of mass destruction. The atomic bomb was used twice just like the fire. The fire’s symbolism, like others’, shifts throughout the story.
In the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding the meaning behind symbols pivot throughout the story. The conch first representing civilization and order becomes meaningless and is destroyed, while Piggy’s specs originally standing for the capability of fire and escape shifts into a symbol of power. Finally, the rescue fire began as a beacon of hope for escape, but is molded by Jack into a weapon of mass destruction. These symbolic values all change due to Jack’s manipulation of the boys’ mindset. The boys regress from wanting to return into civilization to embracing

savagery.