Lord Of The Flies Civilization Quotes

Civilization is the process by which a society or place reaches an advanced stage of social development and organization. In other words civilization is when people have order and they follow the laws. In the book Lord of the flies by William Golding, Civilization is a major theme. It’s about a group of boys who got stranded in an island because of a plane crash. It is up to the boys to keep their civilization and to keep away from their inner savagery. In the book Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses the conch and face paint to show that civilization controls savagery but doesn’t completely eradicate it.

Golding uses the conch to symbolize order in the island. “But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out… yet most powerfully, there was the conch. The being that had blown that, had sat waiting for them on the platform…” (pg.12). This quote showa how Ralph and the conch have the connection that

the other boys doesn’t, the conch gives ralph authority and it shows that he is different from the other boys. The conch also shows order and civilization in the island. In addition to the context, “whoever holds the conch gets to speak” (pg.32). In this quote, it shows that the conch gives the boys order and because “whoever gets the conche, gets to speak”. And it also shows democracy in the island. As a result, “The rock struck piggy at glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into thousand white fragments and ceased to exist” (pg. 119 ). Roger’s act of savagery destroys the conch and it also caused piggy’s death, as the conch shatters, the civilization shatters too. The conch getting destroyed means that the boys’ civilization is non-existent and they’re savages. William Golding explains how the conch symbolizes the boys’ order and civilization.

Golding uses face paints to symbolize the boys’ inner savagery.

“The others nodded. They understood only too well the liberation into savagery that the concealing paint brought” (pg.63). The face paint liberated the boys by concealing their identities. Because if you know that you can’t be recognized, it’ll be more comfortable to do anything you want. In addition to the context, “he giggled and flecked them while the boys laughed at reeking palms then jack grabbed maurice and rubbed the stuff over his cheeks” (pg.138). After the boys kill the mother pig, they put its blood on their faces. The blood becomes a mask that changes the boys’ identity and make them savages. Lastly, “the boys, their bodies streamed with colored clay, sharp sticks in their hands, were standing on the beach making no noise at all” (pg.78 ). When the naval officer shows up, the ”painted savages” turn back into little boys. It shows that civilization controls savagery but does not completely eradicate it. Golding explained how the boys’ identity change through face

paints.

In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses the conch to show that civilization controls savagery but does not completely eradicate it, and face paints to show how people change their identities. Golding uses the conch to symbolize the boys’ order and civilization. The conch was first introduced in the first chapter in the book, Ralph saw it and he blew on it, and that’s when the other boys show up. In that scene it is shown that the conch bring order and democracy in the island. It is also used to speak, and whoever holds it gets to speak and everyone should listen. Golding also uses face paints to show the boys’ identity changes. Face paint was first introduced when Jack attempts to hunt a boar. Jack put on a “mask” so he can be someone else, someone who is furious and savage. Civilization is a hard thing to keep if you’re in an island and there is no adults.