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The Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel written by William Golding in the post World War II era. Golding uses the concept of stranding young boys between the ages of 6-12 on an island due to a plane crash as a way of pointing out all the warts and flaws of mankind.

It presents the age old question of whether goodness and evil are inborn characteristics or if it is learned behavior. Would young boys imitate adults if they had the opportunity to be independent of themselves? In the novel, Golding explores these quandaries while using allegory and symbolism to elevate the tale beyond simply the plot of an adventure story.

First we must establish a definition of allegory. An allegory is an extended comparison that encompasses a longer work of literature. If we throw out a phrase such as life is a rollercoaster, we get the impression that life has ups and downs. In an allegory we may establish that life is an amusement park as an overall theme, and then there are several smaller allegories that can be held in comparison about life to the amusement park. Allegory is more in depth than a simple metaphor or simile. With allegory a case is made. To analyze one can find a series of pieces of evidence that make up the comparison and the message that the author is trying to convey.

There are several levels of allegory in the novel including government, intellect, power, and religion which will be addressed here. Lord of the Flies is rich with allegory beyond just these areas as well.

GOVERNMENT

One of the most dominant allegories in the novel is government. Golding early on establishes Ralph as chief. Within a few chapters Jack is already jockeying for power. Later on in the book there is an underlying hint that Roger is increasingly desirous of power too. With this, Golding establishes that leadership is a very tenuous string that is easily cut by those that wish to usurp its strength. The conch is a symbol of government on the island. It provides initial order and control. The boy that has the conch has the right to speak. As the novel progresses, the boys increasingly abandon the conch which was a symbol of order and control. With the later destruction of the conch, it is symbolic that government, order and control have been abandoned on the island. Through this allegory Golding conveys the fragility of government.

INTELLECT

Another important allegory in the novel is intellect. Piggy, with his glasses, embodies the importance of intellect in the world. Piggy is able

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