Themes, Conflict, and Symbols Lord of the Flies Themes, Conflict, and Symbols

Themes Theme is the underlying meaning or message in a work of literature.

Civilization vs. Savagery Golding compares the instinct of civilization with good and the instinct of savagery with evil. Initially, the boys appear as civilized, moral, and disciplined. As time goes by, they become progressively more savage as they lose touch with civilization, affecting each character in different degrees.

Golding implies that the instinct of savagery is far more primal and fundamental to the human psyche than the instinct of civilization. He sees moral behavior as something that civilization forces upon the individual rather than something that is found naturally. When left to their own devices, Golding expresses the belief that people naturally revert to cruelty, savagery, and barbarism.

The Loss of Innocence The boys on the island change from being well-behaved, orderly children who want to be rescued, to cruel, bloodthirsty hunters who have no desire to return to civilization. In chapter 3, they appear to be carefree and innocent as they swim in the lagoon. By chapter 12, they have hunted, killed, and tortured both animals and human beings.

Golding does not portray this loss of innocence as something that is done TO the children. Rather, it results naturally. As they becoming increasing more open to their innate evil, they demonstrate the savagery that has always existed within them. Golding implies that civilization can help hide, but never wipe out, the innate evil that exists within all human beings.

Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract concepts and ideas.

The Conch Shell Used initially to summon the boys together after the plane crashes, the conch becomes a powerful symbol of civilization and order. The shell helps to govern the boys’ meetings, as it calls them to the assemblies and also gives the person holding it the right to speak. As the boys become less civilized and more savage, the conch starts to lose its power.

Over the course of the assemblies, the boys call out and ignore the rule associated with the conch. Jack begins to ignore the conch’s power on certain parts of the island (on top of the mountain and on Castle Rock). The more time the boys spend on the island, the the more the color of the conch begins to fade as well as its power. When Piggy dies, the conch is crushed along with him. The breaking of the conch symbolizes a complete break from civilization.

The Signal Fire Burning first on the mountain and then later on the beach, the signal fire represents a measure of the connection to civilization. The more it is lit, the more concerned the boys are with being rescued. As the instances of the signal fire being lit decrease, the boys concern for rescue and civilization decrease. Thus, the signal fire serves as a means of measuring the remaining connection to civilization that exists within the boys on the island. Ironically, at the end, it is not a signal fire that allows them to be rescued, but a fire caused by savagery.

Piggy’s Glasses As Piggy is the most intelligent and rational boy in the group, his glasses represent intellectual and scientific thought. The boys first use the lenses to focus the sunlight and light a fire. This symbol, too, loses power as the boys become more savage. Towards the middle of the novel, they are broken, and at the end they are stolen from Piggy and Ralph. The damage to and loss of Piggy’s glasses symbolizes the loss of rational and scientific thought.

The Beast Although it doesn’t really exist, the beast represents the primal instinct of savagery that exists within all human beings. When the boys see the dead body of the parachutist, they believe it to be an actual sighting of the beast. While the other boys are afraid of it, only Simon realizes that they fear the beast because it exists within them.

The Lord of the Flies The Lord of the Flies is the bloody, severed head of the sow that Jack leaves as an offering for the beast. It is a complicated symbol, as it serves as both a physical manifestation of the beast and a representation of evil. As it is another name for Beelzebub, it becomes a symbol for Satan/the devil.

Ralph Representation of order, leadership, and civilization. Throughout the novel, Ralph attempts to remind the boys of rescue and to maintain a civilized society.

Jack Character representation of human savagery and how power leads to corruption. Jack is mean from the beginning of the novel, enjoys taking control, and makes fun of others. As the novel progresses, he becomes more savage and cruel. Once the tribes split, his power leads him to kill and torture.

Piggy Represents the scientific and intellectual aspects of civilization.

Simon Represents natural human goodness. Roger Represents brutality and bloodlust at their most extreme

Littluns If the novel is read allegorically, the older characters can represent different aspects of society. The littluns represent the common people in a society that are subjects to the whims of the other characters.

Conflict Conflict is defined as a struggle between two opposing forces. The conflict may be between two people or it may be between a person and some other force. Internal Conflict is a struggle that occurs within the main character. This struggle happens within the character's own mind. External Conflict is a struggle that the main character has with another character, with society, or with a natural force. Resolution is how the conflict is solved/ended.

Man vs. Man (Ralph vs. Jack) The two continue to argue with each other as they both want to be in charge. They are both equals, as the top two contenders to be chief. They are both opposites, as the have differing leadership styles and opposite personality traits. This conflict is resolved when Jack breaks off and forms his own tribe.

Man vs. Nature All the children are trying to survive on the island by themselves. There are many things in their way such as surviving in challenging conditions and even encountering a beast. The conflict is resolved when the boys are rescued.

Man vs. Society Ralph struggles to get everyone's cooperation on the island. One problem in particular is people disagreeing with Ralph and his position as a leader.

Man vs. Self Man vs. self is an internal conflict that is demonstrated in the novel as Ralph vs. Ralph. Ralph struggles to determine how he should lead the boys and get them to focus on the common goal of rescue.