Power In Lord Of The Flies Conch Essay

Society is full of corruption, authority issues, and abuse of power. All over the world, no nation is ever identified as perfect or ever will be utopian, due to the imperfection of people themselves. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, in a society filled with isolation and dysfunction, civil people become less sane. From the beginning to the end, the former proper British boys, deteriorate into unruly savages. Piggy and Ralph discover a rare shell called a conch and soon after, it becomes a placeholder for authority and civilization throughout the book. In Lord of the Flies, Golding uses the conch as a symbol of communication to convey to the readers that the communicative power provides order in society.
In the beginning of the book,

the conch is considered very valuable, it keeps everything in order, and provides power to the one obtaining it. It is intertwined with Ralph’s leadership, and portrayed less than a physical object, and more of a figure representing government and control.

When Piggy and Ralph first arrive on the island, while getting to know each other they discover the unique shell in a lagoon. "S'right. It's a shell! I have seen one like that before. On someone's back wall. A conch he called it. He used to blow it and then his mum would come. It's ever so valuable--" (Golding, 15). When Piggy explains Ralph what the shell can be used for, it introduces the idea of using the shell to signal an assembly of people. At the first assembly containing all the boys, they notice that Ralph was the one who blew the conch. “Him with the shell! Ralph! Ralph! Let him be chief with the trumpet thing.” (Golding, 22) When Jack and Ralph are voted upon, the majority agrees that Ralph should be their chief, due to the fact that he was the one who blew it. The conch calls attention to one person, in an effort to stay organized, and civil. Throughout the book, the conch and Ralph are observed to have a strong connection. "But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. The being that had

blown that, had sat waiting for them on the platform with the delicate thing balanced on his knees, was set apart" (Golding, 22). Ralph and the conch are linked in the minds of the boys and the object itself gives Ralph control as their chief, and sets him apart from the others. Lastly, Ralph decides that the conch should be used for communication, and that they should pass it around and use it to speak, one person at a time. “I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak” (Golding,33) The conch creates the organization and communication within their community, and each person gets it to share their ideas without interruption. This allows them to peacefully discuss a plan, throughout each assembly, keeping civility. The conch comes to represent communication and order, as Ralph instructs the boys how to use the conch to take turns in their meetings.
As the end of the book approaches, the conch’s importance decreases and the boys lose their sense of civillness, becoming savages.

The communication between the boys weaken and they form into two separate, rivalling groups of Piggy and Ralph against Jack and his guards. When Ralph blows the conch and no one appears, it demonstrates that the conch’s value and significance have been abolished. By this point, the boys have destroyed their chances of having a well organized system, considering the main object that provided them with order is now worthless. When Ralph and Piggy approach Castle Rock to retrieve piggy’s glasses, Jack and Ralph have a fight. Then, Roger rolls a massive boulder on to Piggy, killing him and crushing the conch. "The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist" (Golding, 181). Roger's act of savagery destroys the conch and Piggy, the voice of reason. As the conch shatters, so do the last remnants of civilization and order on the island. Lastly, after everyone realizes the conch has been shattered, they decide to take measures in their own hands. “The conch is gone-- He ran forward, stopping. “I’m Chief” (Golding,181) Jack’s impulse about deciding he will now be chief demonstrates that their order within the island is gone, and Ralph is no longer powerful, meaning that anyone can seize the control. Overall, through the end of the book, the conch goes from losing its purpose,

to completely being demolished. Not only does this represent how the civilization on the island itself is annihilated, but so is Piggy, the voice of reason who enforced the laws, and the authority Ralph once obtained.
In Lord of the Flies, Golding uses the conch as a symbol of communication to convey to the readers that the communicative power provides order in society. Throughout the book, their society becomes more corrupt, unable to maintain organization or a single leader. The conch was an effective call to order and control only until halfway through the book, when as it loses it’s power, Ralph does too, leaving the boys to become more savage. The once proper, british, boys lose their innocence all-together, as they follow impulses that drive them to do terrifying and outrageous actions to each other. The communication that the conch once provided, deteriorates into an overall silence between the boys, and miscommunication. Golding concludes that when it comes down to civilization vs. savagery, savagery will win, due to the inner evil of humans themselves.