The Conch Symbolism

In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Golding bolsters the theme of human nature being held together by the order of society, and without it humanity turning into immoral savages by using symbolism throughout the novel. The condition of The Conch and how it progressively changes symbolizes how the children slowly lose their humanity while staying on the island. The destruction of The Conch shell represents how the society created by the children crumbles to pieces towards the end of the novel. Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies, or The Beast symbolizes the hunger for evil and violence in each human heart, which is displayed through the actions and characteristics the children make and develop. Golding uses symbolism to show, the theme and

Piggy, a member of the group, prioritized order throughout the children, becoming the voice of reason and logic. The order implemented by Piggy was aided by the use of a conch, so he could get the attention the rest of the group using it. Throughout the book, the conch became a struggle for power due to however having it being the voice of reason. This became a predicament due to leaders wanting it and having the hunger to claim power. Towards the end of the novel, the “society” created by the children is broken. With everyone being driven to madness, Piggy and his conch were the only sources of reason left to repair the group’s sense of morality. This however is ruined due to Piggy being killed and The Conch being destroyed. After the sudden loss of a last hope, everyone continued to be savage with nothing aiding them to join together and create a

The Beast in Lord of the Flies is symbolized as a evil monster, which differs from the children's characteristics in the beginning of the book for children are seen as innocent and joyful. This however, changes when both the Beast and the group of children slowly morph into the same being. The children more chaotic and evil when committing acts of murder and grotesque acts. Simon realizes this, being the oldest in the group. When Jack and other boys in the group hainusly put a spear up the butt of a dying pig and Simon loses his innocence by realizing that the beast is within all of them due to “[Simon seeing] the picture of a human at once heroic and sick.” (p.140). As the children become more savage, their belief in the beast grows stronger. The children's’ immoral behavior is what brings the beast into existence due to them acting more savagely and making the beast seem more real. When the children put the head of the pig on a stick, the beast manifests in the pig's head. The beast states to Simon “There isn’t anyone to help you...I’m the Beast...Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!...You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?”(p.158), showing that the beast manifest inside of the children appearing as evil and darkness. The beast symbolises the evil and darkness and influences the heinous actions the children make as they stay