What Does Simon Symbolize In Lord Of The Flies

The novel Lord of the Flies written by William Golding contains a captivating storyline filled with multitudes of symbolism which helped Golding communicate his view on the savagery and civilized behaviors amongst people. In this book, readers indulge themselves in a story about a group of schoolboys being stranded on an island after crash landing in their plane. In the beginning, the boys are ecstatic about finally being away from adults, however this changes as order collapses and dilemmas arise. Furthermore, Golding is able to clearly express the human nature of becoming savage when there is a lack of civilization through the symbolization of Simon and his death.The reason for this statement is due to the hope and innocence Simon represented,

the manner of his killing shows the group’s complete loss of civilization, and the way his death impacted the boys. Sometimes the line that separates savagery and civilization is very thin and can be easily erased once all morals are gone.
To begin, Simon is a static character in which the horrible doings of the other boys do not alter his personality and presence.

The time leading up to his death, Simon remained a constant symbol for the hope of being rescued and problems being resolved. For example, when Ralph watches the waves on the darker side of the island and comes to the realization of being completely isolated from the “grownup” world, Simon offers a couple of reassuring words. On page 111 Simon says to Ralph, “‘You'll get back to where you came from.’” By saying this Simon reveals how he is hopeful of a rescue and gives Ralph a bit more comfort. Certainly, Simon is not completely sure with this statement since their situation seems hopeless, but he keeps this mindset and it ultimately prevents him from falling into the terrible actions of savagery the other boys are engulfed

in.
Another example of Simon’s hope and innocence comes from page 89. To summarize, the boys were having a routinely meeting called by the chief, Ralph to enforce the rules that were being completely ignored and to also talk about the beast. The beast is believed to be an evil creature of some sort that is out to frighten and hurt the little boys. However, Simon has an opposing idea on the beast. Simon believes that the beast is actually themselves, the inner evil and savagery of people and to quote, “...mankind’s essential illness.”(89). Sadly, the other boys are not able to comprehend this critical idea and instead they ridicule Simon, falling deeper into the darkness of savagery that is a part of them. Later in the story, Simon’s finding of this fact is proven and reinforced by the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies in actuality is the head of a sow on a stick infested with flies which Jack and his notorious group killed maniacally as a peace offering for the beast. On page 143, Simon awakens from his faint and seems to be in a state of hallucination that speaks truthfully about his thoughts. His conversation with the Lord of the Flies caused him to faint again, but the Lord of the Flies says to Simon, “‘Fancy thinking the Beast is something you could hunt and kill!...You knew didn’t you? I’m part of you?...’” (143). It can be inferred that Simon knew for a long time the truth about the beast. When it says, “‘Fancy thinking the beast is something you could hunt and kill!’” the Lord of the Flies mentions the major problem with the group that is making the boys become savages, hunting and killing pigs. The act of doing this reveals the true savagery that lives inside the boys and Simon is the only one who has realized this.
Moving forward, Simon’s unexpected death became a major symbol for the loss of hope and innocence in the group. The manner of his killing shows how the boys have completely lost their civilized ways. On page 153 Simon comes out from the forest while the boys are chanting and reenacting the killing of the pig, a hobby that overcomes the boy's mind with negative thoughts of killing. It states, “There were no words, and no movements, but the tearing of teeth and claws.” Evidently, Golding describes the boys in a manner that someone would describe an animal. The words “tearing”, “teeth”, and “claws” are usually not associated with young boys and readers are able to conjure up an image of a wild, turbulent creature. Thus, further showing how the boys have lost their civilized ways due to intentionally committing the murder of Simon. Also, after the slaughter of Simon there is a loss of innocence amongst the boys because they committed one of the most substantial crimes in human nature, deliberately taking away the life of a person.
In addition, Golding offers one last impression of Simon’s humane aura the day after his death.

Throughout the story Simon has always been in touch with nature and remaining peaceful. For example, on page 55 Simon had gone to his hiding place to get away from the growing tension between Ralph and Jack and it says, “He [Simon] came at last to a place where more sunshine fell. Since they had not so far to go for light the creepers had woven a great mat that hung at the side of an open space in the jungle…” In other words, Simon has his own place of relaxation in the crazy situation he currently lived in. This sets him apart from the other boys since they thought lowly of him when they found out he was doing this. Likewise, the quote, “...to a place where more sunshine fell” gives a warmer feeling towards Simon’s character and also shows his bright personality, innocent and hopeful. Ultimately, this resting place offered his mind a small break from the oppressive problems that were arising and keeping him farther away from the savagery that started overcoming the boys. To continue, on page 154 there is a description of Simon’s dead body that still kept himself civilized. There is a calm transition of his character out of the story the day after his murder and it says, “Softly, surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures, itself a silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations, Simon’s dead body moved out toward the open sea.” Certainly, the dead body of Simon is

compared to the different aspects of nature because of his deep connection with nature. He is not described as something terrible like the way he was killed. Overall, his brutal and animalistic killing is juxtaposed with the true beauty, innocence, and hopeful soul which is described by nature. Simon’s death is the point of no return for the boys to still be considered innocent, civilized children.
Lastly, the reactions of the well-known characters of Simon’s death further proves their digress from civilized boys. For example, the chief Ralph realizes it was a murder as explained on page 156 and seems to feel guilty in participating in the killing. However, after conversing with the intellectual Piggy he renders his thoughts to think it was an accident. Piggy completely dismisses it was their fault saying “We was scared!” (156) and “It was an accident” (157). Likewise, Piggy uses the darkness as a source of being scared. Then, when Samneric come and begin speaking to Piggy and Ralph they lie about their participation in the killing. Moreover, as explained on page 158 Samneric give a false scenario of leaving early right after the feast and getting lost in the woods. In the end, Ralph and Piggy also lie about participating in the terrible dance that killed Simon, responding with “We [Ralph and Piggy] left early...because we were tired” (158). All the boys know that they were part of the people responsible for the death of Simon, but are too ashamed to admit it. Also on page 158 is the line that sums up the boy’s suspicious answers about last night, it says, “The air was heavy with unspoken knowledge.” The use of “heavy” emphasizes how the truth is forever hidden in these boy’s minds. To sum up, the reactions of Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric to killing Simon demonstrate a type of uncivilization that is very much savagery. Which is covering up a murder and not acknowledging that an innocent life has been exterminated.
However, the reaction of Jack is the best example for the loss of civilization amid the group of boys. On page 160 after having Wilfred tied up and beaten for no apparent reason, Jack announces to the group that they will hunt for a peace offering for the beast and when the topic of Simon comes up Jack also comes up with an excuse. As said on page 160, Jack proclaims to the boys, “‘He[Simon, Beast] came-disguised. He may come again even though we gave him the head of our kill to eat. So watch; and be careful.’” It is evident that Jack feels very little remorse for being the one that began the dance that killed Simon. He doesn’t acknowledge that they indeed killed Simon who was far from being a savage like everyone else. The word “disguised” is used ill-informed since the beast is disguised by a body. To elaborate, the beast is the representation of the inner-evil everyone has but it is hidden by the civilized personalities that are developed as one grows. Jack does not know this, but he instead makes this statement to keep the attention of the other boys to himself. Jack is in charge because his power feeds off of the fear of the boys who are frightened by the beast. To conclude, the aftermath of Simon’s death clearly presents how the boys have completely separated themselves from being civilized and have turned into compulsive savages.
In conclusion, the theme of seeing the differences and effects of being savage versus being civilized is further supported using the symbolization of Simon and his death. Golding most likely created Simon’s character as a starting point of when all the boys were civilized and as the boys are rapidly becoming savages, readers are able to see the major differences between civilization and savagery. Also, to fully comprehend how the boys have been severely changing from their civilized ways into barbaric savages. Civilization dies with chaos such as what happened in Lord of the Flies and the next aspect to take its place is savagery.