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Literary analysis: Symbolism in Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

In William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies", symbols draw much path of the novel. The most important symbols that guide the story along are the conch and the head of the sow. Obviously seen, the conch and the sow's head have a different aura to them. The conch takes up a majestic role, while the head is an evil display. A considerable amount of the story is spent on Ralph's and Jack's struggle for power, and to keep the struggle strong, both Ralph and Jack use these symbols. Arguably, without symbols, "The Lord of the Flies" would be a different story.




The conch and the sow's head are the symbols that draw the most attention; they reflect the most power. Difference of these symbols can be seen from the beginning of their appearance in the story. The conch is found in the lagoon. It is an inspiring piece of art that exists there naturally. On the other hand, the head is made from brutality and violence; there is nothing natural about it. Just the event of the sow being killed is done in a demented fashion and it shows another symbol. Sows being the female are the one capable of reproducing. When the hunt works its way for the kill, instead of going for the baby pigs, they go for the sow. It shows an end coming to life, and maybe hopes.




Ralph and Jack take power somewhat similarly to the two symbols. Ralph takes up the conch voluntarily and there is no fight with Piggy to obtain it. So, it doesn't surprise to see that Ralph got position of the chief without trying; the votes are purely voluntary of the kids. Jack from the very beginning of the novel tries to force his will into others. The deaths of the sow, symbolizing forced sex portray Jack expressing his will into something else. He eventually uses this technique to get almost all of the people on the island to join his side. From the point of the evil side, they aren't evil. Jack thinks that he is doing something good for the group, but in reality, he is only speeding up chaos all over the island.




One of the powerful symbols used by Jack to gain power is meat. The temptation of meat was too much for even Ralph and Piggy. The meat of the pig leads to the worst events on the island, such as: Simon's death, the group splitting up, and Jack and his followers turning into savages. The out of control dance, which killed Simon, certainly had connections with meat. Meat symbolizes as the fruit in the Garden of Eden while the snake is somewhat played by Jack. Jack is the main hunter without whom there wouldn't be such


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