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Use of symbolism in Lord of the flies
Use of symbolism in Lord of the flies
Lord of the flies characterization and symbolism
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Lord of the Flies is a 1954 novel that was composed to reflect the events occurring in the midst of World War II. The book holds deeper meaning than its intended purpose and it illustrates a child's true feelings during the time period. Despite Lord of the Flies having many symbols, I want to further the discussion on the idea of Simon’s character being a Jesus like figure. Through my eyes Simon represents Jesus for his helpful hand, his kind heart and his last moments living on the island. Simon is a very symbolic character that teaches us many lessons throughout his time in the book. He is first mentioned when he faints onto the sand during the walk to the first meeting at the lagoon (Golding 20). This scene illustrates the timid and shy character of Simon and helps us truly build a strong relationship with his character. There are many cases of Simon showing us that he is a true helper and wants everyone to be at peace. …show more content…
One example of this was when Simon was one of the two that helped build the shelter for the boys He literally put a roof over their heads (Golding 80). His helpful and peaceful nature is also shown when Ralph asks for someone to go back to tell Piggy the plan. Simon volunteers to do so without question (Golding 117). Having been raised Catholic myself, I saw similarities between Simon’s behavior and the acts and teachings of Jesus Christ. Simon is always willing to go above and beyond and do what's right, these are actions of someone that follows in the footsteps of God. Though Simon is not perfect, he gives as much as he can as long as he can. Another case where Simon’s character acts selflessly and for the greater good of the people, is when Simon gives his chunk of pig to Piggy because he is empty handed (Golding 74). Simon’s actions illustrated in this scene reflect an action of Jesus’. In the story “Feeding of the 5000” Jesus takes all the food he has and separates it among a large crowd. Although Simon did not do this exact action, nor did he have the ability to multiply his helping of the pig; he did give everything he had to those less fortunate than himself. The title of the book Lord of the Flies is only mentioned within Simon's head.
It is not mentioned in any outside source (Golding 138). The Lord of the Flies is just a pig’s head on a stick. The sole purpose of this is to be a gift for the “Beast (Golding 137).” The Lord of the Flies tries to overtake and corrupt Simon's soul. By regarding Simon as a Jesus like character. He disregards the satanic symbol of the pigs head and continues to stay true to his own pure nature (Golding 143). Simon reveals to the reader his distain for the Lord of the Flies and expresses that he cannot be corrupted by some head on a stick. The way Simon lives his final moments remind me of those that Jesus lived (Golding 154). Simon finds the parachute and carries to his death much like Christ did with the cross (Golding 152). Both Simon and Jesus were brutally beaten by members of their community. (Golding 153). Also, the description of Simon’s body as he lies in the surf takes on a mysterious and peaceful quality similar to that of the death of Jesus. (Golding
154). I see Simon is a source of hope for a reader reading the Lord of the Flies novel. Simon holds the most troubled voice, but doesn't make it known to his peers. He carries his worry as his own “crown of thorns” in his heart and mind that only the reader can hear. Despite all of the violence around him, Simon stays kind, empathetic and peaceful. Simon depicts a Jesus Christ like figure because of his helpful personality, his kind heart, his denial of Satan and his last moments living on the island. Therefore, I will leave you with one question. Is there enough evidence to prove Simon is Jesus?
One reason Simon is regarded as the Christ figure in Lord of the Flies is that he commits many selfless acts just like Jesus Christ did. Simon chooses to stay and help Ralph build huts rather than go play with the other inhabitants. Ralph compliments Simon by saying “Simon. He Helps. All the rest rushed off. He’s done as much as I have” (54). Golding also illustrates Simon’s generosity when “Simon pulled off the choicest fr...
In the beginning, Simon walks through a trail where “flowers and fruit grew...and everywhere was the scent of ripeness and the blooming of a million bees in the afternoon sunlight”(56 Golding). This represents Heaven, which is where God began. In Christianity, there is an idea called the Trinity where God, Jesus(Christ), and the Holy Spirit are all one being. Since God has always been in Heaven, this means that Christ did start in Heaven. When Simon walks through this beautiful part of the jungle, it represents the beauty of heaven depicted in the bible. The second stage Simon goes through is the dark, vile part of the jungle where “[the] sunshine [falls]…[and] little plants and ferns [grow]”(56 Golding). This scenery represents Hell. The Apostles Creed recites that Christ “[descended] into hell”(Apostles’ Creed). Simon walking from the beautiful path to the dark path represents the shift from Heaven to Hell. Lastly, Simon goes back where “candle-buds opened their wide white flowers glimmering under the light that pricked down from the first stars”(57 Golding). This recreates the first scenery with the delicate plants. This represents the next part of the Apostles Creed where Jesus “rose again from the dead [and] ascended into Heaven”(Apostles’ Creed). When Simon sees the beautiful flowers blooming, this represents Christ’s return to
In the book Lord of the Flies the charecter, Simon, is portrayed as a Christ-figure. He is shown to have all the qualities Christ has: intelligence, determination, and resiliance. Simon also is portrayed like Christ physically, he is skinny and not a strong person. Simon was very calm, kind, and he enjoyed being alone when ever he could.
In the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the concept of good fighting evil is clearly shown to be a big picture. In many cases, Jesus Christ represents good and bliss in the universe, while the devil represents evil. In this novel the reader sees the when good fights evil, the evil is a good turned evil. For example, before the devil became evil, he was an angel. He was good turned evil and is now fighting good. Simon represents the good and bliss, he is the Christ figure on the island while evil and savagery is shown in the other boys on the island. Both Simon and Christ share common qualities, actions, and deaths. Simon shows this throughout the novel, from the beginning until the time of his death.
A Christ-like figure is when an author develops allusions between their characters in their story to Jesus Christ. In Lord of The Flies the author William Golding describes parallels Simon to Jesus. Simon is one of the major characters in Lord of The Flies and he is given characteristics and a physical appearance that relates to Jesus Christ. Simon also has a similar personality and helps the weaker one in the group. Simon also experiences the devil in his journeys when he wandered in the jungle. Simon is the only “natural good” character in the story and possess many Christ-like characteristics.
Simon was the observant character, the quiet philosopher. He was often alone, sometimes by his own choice, and he liked to wander into the peaceful jungle. He sincerely cared about the other boys, sometimes helping the young ones to fetch fruit, yet "Simon turned away from them and went where the just perceptible path led him. Soon high jungle closed in" (56). He loved solitude and yet felt loneliness; he was alien to the other boys. The boys did not think anyone would be stupid enough to go into the jungle by night: "The assembly grinned at the thought of going out into the darkness. Then Simon stood up and Ralph looked at him in astonishment" (85). Many of the boys even thought he was "batty" because he left the group to spend time alone.
In the novel, Lord of the Flies, all the characters have an significant role and each individual shows a different impact than others in the society. Simon’s innocence through the novel impacts his behavior and the way he treats the littluns with care. He is a flat, static character who has an active role and gives his full support in everything he does. Simon does not give up hope on being rescued and becomes the light of the island as he does everything he can throughout each situation. As the characters and plot develop, the boys begin to change as each character loses their innocence because of their freedom. Simon shows the most purity and compassion as problems increase through the boys as he tries to not let any of the causes affect him. In Lord of the Flies, Simon represents the goodness of the island as he helps the littluns, supports the boys and does everything in his power to make the best of the situation on the island.
Simon’s body and the creatures around it also show his holiness. Light images of the creatures that surround Simon glorify his body, and as light falls on his corpse he is transfigured into an icon of expiation. Also, the water covers Simon in a “coat of pearls” and “creatures” (interpreted to symbolize angels) begin to spread a layer of silver over him. The apotheosis of Simon is complete, as he becomes completely silver.
Golding makes very good use of characters in Lord of the Flies, he shows both good and evil through each of the characters. One of the characters that represents goodness is Simon. He is very good and pure, and has the most positive outlook. Simon is very different from the other boys, he seems to always be helping the Littluns and many other vulnerable boys such as Piggy. "Simon sitting between the twins and Piggy, wiped his mouth and shoved his piece of meat over the rocks to Piggy, who grabbed it." (Golding, pg.74) This quote interprets an example of a time when Simon helped Piggy by giving him food, it shows Simon's wholeheartedness. Another example would be when Simon helps the Littluns pick fruit from high to reach places. All in all Golding tries to portray Simon as a Christ like figure.
In the end, even though he failed to inform the other boys of it, Simon through his use of spiritual power was able to recognize the truth. He stood strong against evil even though it consumed the island after his death. People can look to him as an example of how to act in real life. And to be honest, Simon is an important character to Lord of the Flies by William Golding, not just for all this, but because he is what every person should wish to be. In the book the others bully him because they do not quite understand him, but Simon in all reality is a role model for the world. Don’t you think that the world would be a much better place, if we all tried to act a little bit like Simon?
One of the most important and most obvious symbols in Lord of the Flies is the object that gives the novel its name, the pig's head. Golding's description of the slaughtered animal's head on a spear is very graphic and even frightening. The pig's head is depicted as "dim-eyed, grinning faintly, blood blackening between the teeth," and the "obscene thing" is covered with a "black blob of flies" that "tickled under his nostrils" (William Golding, Lord of the Flies, New York, Putnam Publishing Group, 1954, p. 137, 138). As a result of this detailed, striking image, the reader becomes aware of the great evil and darkness represented by the Lord of the Flies, and when Simon begins to converse with the seemingly inanimate, devil-like object, the source of that wickedness is revealed. Even though the conversation may be entirely a hallucination, Simon learns that the beast, which has long since frightened the other boys on the island, is not an external force. In fact, the head of the slain pig tells him, "Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill! Ö You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you?" (p. 143). That is to say, the evil, epitomized by the pig's head, that is causing the boys' island society to decline is that which is inherently present within man. At the end of this scene, the immense evil represented by this powerful symbol can once again be seen as Simon faints after looking into the wide mouth of the pig and seeing "blackness within, a blackness that spread" (p. 144).
The character of Simon in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies has often been viewed as the Christ figure of the novel. If you were to examine the actions of both Simon and Jesus, you would find a number of incidents that parallel each other.
In Lord of the Flies, many key characters and symbols represent the almost civilized impulse. Some examples are Ralph, Piggy, and the ‘conch shell’ the boys use to call meetings. These are signs of order and control in a place full of fear and mental pressure. Simon is an example of how humans slowly evolve and adjust to their surroundings because he takes control of the situation. Simon acts morally on the island, he behaves kindly to the younger children, and he is the first to realize the problem posed by the beast and the Lord of the Flies.
Throughout William Golding's, Lord of the Flies, many of the characters go through changes in their personality traits. From beginning to end, Simon goes through the smallest amount of change than anyone in the novel. Despite the fact that Simon did not really fit in with the other boys, he tried his hardest to make a difference in his and the other's lives.
People read novels everyday to expand their imaginations, and this novel does exactly that. The novel is called Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The protagonist and the main character in the Lord of the Flies is Ralph. The novel Lord of the Flies talks about a group of British boys who were getting moved to a safe place for the remainder of the Cold War. Their plane ends up crashing onto an island which is like paradise with fresh water and plenty of food, but it turns out being anything but paradise. An important definition to know is the term Christ figure which is a character who possesses qualities or experiences events similar to those of Jesus Christ as He has been portrayed in the New Testament. In the novel Lord of the Flies,