Identity In Lord Of The Flies

Throughout the realistic novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding has repeatedly used many of his characters as a representation of many abstract ideas that relate to the whole human society, as in how we form civilization, and how easy it is for us to turn away from it. These ideas are expressed through the characters´ descriptions, their conversations, and actions. Simon, one of the main characters in the book who still retains to his civilized way of thinking contrasts to many other boys who have subdued to their nature of savagery, is the representation of natural goodness, spiritual figure in a non-religious way, due to his spiritual vision, his awareness of the beast’s true identity, and the way he interacts toward other boys.

Simon,

arguably, is the most complex character in the novel. He has a sense of spirituality perception that no other characters have. Such perception prompts Simon to ‘go to a place that he knows in the jungle’, where he frequently spends time with himself, away from the society and does a sort of meditation (Golding 85). Simon makes his meditation become a quite customary activity that whenever the young boys see his figure moves around in the middle of the night, they mistook him for the beast’s itself. This ironically foreshadows the horrific future event of the boys brutally slaughter Simon for actually thinking he’s the beast coming out of the forest. Furthermore, Simon comes up with many abstract thoughts and ideas such as “What’s the dirtiest thing there is?”, which demands for a far too sophisticated of an answer from the audience. This occurs to Simon due to the inarticulation “in his effort to express mankind's essential illness.” (Golding 89) Simon really has a spiritual vision of matters, his thoughts and actions carry more profound meanings to them. Such indication can be taken from one of Simon’s prophesied statements to Ralph: “You’ll get back to where you came from.”, which also foreshadow the forthcoming event happens later on (Golding 111).

Perhaps the most ongoing theme occurs in the book is revealing the identity of what the boys called “the beast”.

Many refer to it as the Lord of the Flies, Simon, though, offers a different approach to the matter. Regarding the beast, Simon’s “inward sight the picture of a” man “once heroic and sick”. This gives proof to Simon wisdom, making him stands on a superior level in terms of intelligence and philosophy from the other boys. Simon recognizes the beast’s true identity when he attempts to explain to the boys that there is no real beast, it’s only the fear of themselves. "What I mean is . . . maybe it's only us.” (Golding 89) However, his “effort fell about him in ruins;” as “the laughter beat him cruelly and he shrank away defenseless to his seat.” (Golding 89) The response Simon receives show that the audience is not ready to accept the meaningful truth, that the fear of themselves causes a deception among the boys to create an illusion of a fleshly beast. Simon is willing to persist on a quest of unraveling the false beast, because he wants the boys to face their fear, the beast within themselves. Along the way, he comes face to face with the Lord of the Flies, literally described as a severed pig’s head impaled upon a stake, “a gift for the beast” (Golding 137). The encounter consolidates the idea that the real beast is more about the concept of evil, which is what the figure represents, than a physical creature that can do harm to the community. Fearing that

evil instinct also exists somewhere deep inside of himself, he imagines the beast the beast tells him: “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?” (Golding 143). The Lord of the Flies radiates with the persuasive power fueled by chaos and savagery that eventually causes the terrified Simon to “lose consciousness” (Golding 144).

Simon behaves considerately toward other boys, especially the younger boys or littleluns. On one occasion, he helps “found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage” (Golding 56). Such nice gestures like this makes the little boys become fond of him and follow him. Simon is also nice to other boys like Piggy , Ralph and even Jack. He stands up for Piggy and helps him get his glasses back when it flew off after “Jack smacked Piggy’s head” (Golding 71). Simon also volunteer to go deliver a message to Piggy “through the forest, by himself” saying he ‘doesn’t mind, honestly’ (Golding 117). These kind actions of Simon characterize him as a nice boy and thus suitable for one aspect of his representation, that is the abstract idea of the natural goodness which exist in human.

The character Simon,one of the most complex and closely examined character in the novel by many scholars, represents the quality of goodness and aspect of spiritual insight due to the spiritual vision he has, his discernment of the truth, and his kindness toward others.

Simon has a spiritual perception, a mystical connection to nature that none other characters possess. He also makes it clear that the beast real identity is the evilness which exists inside everyone. Finally, Simon treats other characters, especially the little boys with kind manners and shows interest in their well-being, contrasts to the cruelty of Jack and many boys who have let their savagery rule over them. After his death, Golding then shift the focus from Simon’s body toward the unchanging nature, such as the sun, moon, and earth that is because the character Simon, represents a knowledge as fundamental as the natural

elements.