What Does The Island Symbolize Hell In Lord Of The Flies

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In Lord of the Flies, the island symbolizes hell through its portrayal as a place of isolation, temptation and the unraveling of human nature. The boys gradually descend into savagery and the loss of their morality, paralleling the concept of hell. The island becomes a mini replica of the larger world around them, highlighting the dark and destructive aspects of human behavior when removed from a civilized setting. Throughout the novel, there are several specific events on the island that illustrate its descent into chaos. One example is the formation of separate groups led by Ralph and Jack, which leads to conflict and power struggles. Another event is the gradual breakdown of rules and order, as the boys give in to their primal instincts. …show more content…

The beast serves as a reminder of the dangers that lie within all of us, and how easily civilization can crumble when confronted with our innermost fears and desires. It's a powerful symbol that highlights the fragility of human nature and the thin line between order and chaos. “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee..Piggy's arms and legs twitched a bit like a pig after it had been killed.”(Golding 181). When Roger pushed that boulder off the mountain, it was a haunting reminder of the darkness that consumed even the most innocent. As this story unfolds, the island's harsh and inhospitable environment starts to replicate the surroundings of what seems to be hell. The island's unforgiving terrain, dense jungle, treacherous cliffs and unpredictable weather all symbolize a hellish environment. Just as hell is often depicted as a place of torment and moral decay, the island becomes a battleground for the boy's inner demons. With this harsh landscape on the island, it severs a physical and mental darkness the boys have never experienced before. Which mirrors the idea of hell, when the boys come to the island they are all still just children. But when you stay in a place of darkness for so long, the darkness starts to become you. When Simon confronts The Lord of the Flies, he severs the …show more content…

Jack is the pleasure principle in the novel, and is constantly pushing towards what he wants over everyone else.I ought to be chief.. because.. I'm a head boy.(21). Over time, he creates an army of boys and starts to hunt for Ralph. Mirroring the actions of Adolf Hitler when hunting down Jews, purely for power. Jack does these things not because he needs to, but because he wants to have the upper hand and all the power he can acquire. Jack's love for authority controls his actions throughout the book, and towards the end of the novel he uses the boy's fears to gain power. He promises protection for the boys from the beast. Simon's character represents goodness and purity in the world, often seen as a Christ-like figure in the story. Simon's interactions with the boy and his solitary moments in the jungle can be interpreted as symbolic of his connection to a higher power or a force of good even when in the darkness. He is almost like a beacon of light in the midst of all the bad happenings on the island, “Maybe there is a beast..Maybe it's only us”(89). This quote reflects Simon's deep understanding of the good and evil within the boys themselves, contrasting his goodness with the growing savagery around him. By doing this, he symbolizes a sense of hope and righteousness in a place that mirrors hell. When an amount of light is shining in an uneven group of

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