What Does The Conch Represent In Lord Of The Flies

Valeriya Shashko

English 9E

Johnson

Date 6/1/15

Symbolism in LOTF

In William Golding’s, Lord of the Flies, the idea of good and evil is evident throughout the story. He uses young children, adolescents, and objects to portray the struggle of man v. nature, man v. self, and man v. society. Symbolism is essential to the message Golding imparts to his audience enabling them to arrive at their own interpretation. When William Golding was just twelve years old, he attempted, unsuccessfully, to write a novel and as a frustrated child, he found an outlet in bullying his peers, he even said that he enjoyed hurting people when he was a child. Later in life Golding became a teacher. His frustrating childhood and his experience teaching unruly young

boys would later serve as inspiration for his novel Lord of the Flies.
Golding uses various techniques to present his dramatic conflict but the main technique includes the use of symbols. Symbols are objects, figures, or characters used to represent abstract concepts or ideas and help the reader better comprehend the writing. William Golding’s novel is highly symbolic from the very beginning to the very end. The symbols that represent the main themes in Lord of the Flies are the conch shell, the signal fire, Ralph, Piggy, Jack, Simon and Roger. The novel is rich with symbols but these particular objects and characters seem to play the most significant roles in developing the main themes.
In the beginning of the novel, the conch shell is the first meaningful discovery that Ralph and Piggy make on the island.

“The Conch, we can use this to call the others. Have a meeting they'll come when they hear us-” (Golding 16). The conch is used by the two boys to summon the others after they are all separated by the crash. As a result, that shell becomes an influential symbol of order and civilization on the island.The conch is also used to during the boys' meetings. “Conch, that's what the shell is called. I'll give the conch to the next person who speaks. He can hold when he is speaking” (Golding 33). The one who comes in possession of the shell acquires the right to speak. As savagery gains control and civilization on the island is corroded, the shell loses its influence and value among the boys. “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).When Roger kills Piggy with the boulder, the conch shell is destroyed which suggests complete termination of the sense of civilization among the majority of the boys on the

island.
Another important symbol in Golding’s novel was the signal fire.

The fire was originally lit on top of the mountain, and later on the beach. “If a ship come by the Island they might notice us. We must make a fire” (Golding 38).The purpose of the signal fire was to attract the attention of ships that could be passing by and that might be able to rescue the boys from the island. The signal fire becomes a representation of the boys’ desire to return to civilization. In the earlier parts of the novel, the boys put quite a lot of effort into maintaining the fire which indicates that they want to be rescued and return to society. At times when the boys let the fire burn low, the reader realized that the boys are beginning to lose sight of their desire to return. And finally, when the boys allow the fire to go out completely it signifies their acceptance of their savage lives on the island and their desire to be rescued vanishes. Ironically, at the end of the novel, a fire is what finally summons a ship that will rescue the boys, but not the signal fire. Instead, it is the forest fire that Jack’s tribe starts as part of their plan to kill

Ralph.
Lord of the Flies is a representative novel, and many of its characters symbolize important ideas or themes. “All this I meant to say. Now I've said it. You voted me for chief. Now you do what I say.” They quieted, slowly, and at last were seated again. Ralph dropped down and spoke in his ordinary voice.” (Golding 58). Ralph represents the leadership aspect of society. “Life […] is scientific, that's what it is. In a year or two when the world is over they'll be traveling to Mars and back. I know there isn't no beast—not with claws and all that I mean—but I know there isn't no fear either.”[…] “Unless we get frightened of people.” (Golding 99). Piggy represents intelligence. Jack Merridew represents pride, savagery and the longing for power. “There is one special member of this group whom Jack dislikes intensely because he is shy and “always throwing a faint.” This is Simon, pure and simple love.” (Martin 2). Simon represents natural human goodness and purity. Roger represents extreme brutality and hostility.
“Jack was on top of the sow, stabbing downward with his knife. Roger found a lodgment for his point and began to push till he was leaning with his whole weight. The spear moved forward inch by inch and the terrified squealing became a high-pitched scream. Then Jack found the throat and the hot blood spouted over his hands” (Golding 132).
Some might say that the boys’ society resembles a political state. The littluns represent the common people, while the rest of the boys can be seen as the higher classes such as political leaders. The relationships that are developed between the littluns and the older ones portray the boys’ connection to either the savage or the civilized instinct of the society. Ralph and Simon are the more civilized individuals among the rest of the boys and they use their power to try and protect the littluns.On the contrary, the savage boys like Roger and Jack abuse their power in order to satisfy their own desires and they treat the younger boys as puppets for their own entertainment.
Symbolism is undeniably an essential part of William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies. The symbols that are present in the novel provide better understanding of the message that Golding was trying to convey to his audience through his writing. The abundance of symbolic objects in Lord of the Flies gives the reader an opportunity to arrive at their own interpretation which also enables them to see the different themes of the novel.