Piggy as the Adult Figure of Lord of the Flies

Piggy as the Adult Figure of Lord of the Flies

In the most dire situations, some children are able to put aside their childish behaviours and become a mature adult figure, one who takes the right actions and makes mature decisions. According to the National Institutes of Health, only a certain few children are able to act maturely in situations; the other completely normal children are not able to take it seriously. Even though some people think that a child who acts adult-like is not any different than the other children, being adult-like can be very important and useful in many situations, including ones without any parental supervision. In William Golding’s most memorable novel, Lord of the Flies, the most intelligent character – an overweight boy named Piggy – makes valuable efforts and contributions to help others. When Piggy finds himself stranded on an island with many other boys, he steps up to be the most mature and sensible one. Considering it is among the last abilities to mature in the brain, Piggy has remarkable reasoning and problem-solving skills for a twelve-year-old boy. Despite the fact that Piggy is unpopular with many of the big kids on the island, he always attempts to get his adult-like knowledge and opinion across. Piggy’s love for

civilization, justice, and common sense shows how he truly represents the rational adult figure on the island.

The first point proving how Piggy represents the rational adult figure on the island is how his approach on surviving is that of what an adult would do. At the beginning of the book, Piggy maturely takes on the job of writing down the names of all the children. He also “moved among the crowd, asking names and frowning to remember them” (14). Through the eyes o...

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...red the most mature, and the most adult-like. His mature perspective on things, his rational approach on surviving, and how he acts like a conscientious father, proves how Piggy is the adult figure on the island. Without Piggy on the island, the boys probably would have turned to savagery much sooner, resulting in more deaths. In Lord of the Flies, his character plays a major

role, serving as the adult figure of pacifist authority. At times when an authoritative figure is needed, someone –no matter what the age– will always step up. It is only few children that can act in such a mature way; so, when they do, it is not to be ignored. These children are important and imperative to help others endure situations from the worst case, to everyday scenarios. The qualities of an adult that are instilled in some children can drastically change the lives of others.