There is 1 article on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #1 by Helium's members.
blood!"). The boys seem to become one killing machine ("The circle became a horseshoe.").
Simon is being dehumanized ("a thing was crawling out of the forest", "the beast stumbled into the horseshoe", "it was crying out against the", "the crowd surged after it") as to show how the children perceived him in their clouded minds as he came to the beach; and to reflect how societies dehumanize their enemies' nowadays.
After Simon's death, a sense of serenity takes over the beach and even the sea seems to become less agitated ("the rain ceased, and clouds drifted away"). Slowly, Simon becomes human again ("the beast lay huddled on the pale beach" -> "The water rose further and dressed Simon's coarse hair with brightness"). The sea seems to soothe him, taking him on his last path, to the bottom of the ocean. The words used to describe the atmosphere' are peaceful and sad in this section, as Simon's body floats out to sea ("the edge of the lagoon became a streak of phosphorescence", "inaudible syllable", "his cheek silvered", "his shoulder became sculptured marble"). Towards the end, Simon seems to be dehumanized again, this time in a more sacred, peaceful way (to make his image calm and settled), taken more towards nature, which can be more peaceful, or violent, than humans.
This is the direct inverse of the image presented in the section containing Simon's death; it makes us remember the phrase "The silence after the storm".
Simon's death is very descriptive in comparison with Piggy's. The section containing Piggy's death is of about half a page, where as the section describing Simon's death (and after-death) is contained in approximately 2 pages.
Piggy's death is described in a simple, logical way ("The rock struck Piggy", "Piggy fell forty feet", "his head opened and stuff came out", "The sea breathed againand when it wentthe body of Piggy was gone"), where as Simon's is emphasized by unusual adjectives and settings (as shown on the previous page).
I believe that W. Golding creating these differences in their deaths deliberately to show the difference in character of Simon and Piggy. If Simon and Piggy were to see their own deaths, that is how they would have described them.
Simon was always in touch with nature, and had his own way of thinking things through. Piggy's mind was plain, his thoughts were logical and nothing more.
Learn more about this author, Andrew Bucur.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:
by Andrew Bucur
Simon's death happened because of an enormous agitation, physical and emotional, of the rest of the boys, who were playing
Add your voice
Know something about Literary analysis: The two deaths in Lord of the Flies, by William Golding?
We want to hear your view.
Write now!
Featured Partner
One Note At A Time has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse One Note At A T...more
hide