Lord of the Flies Last of the Allegories

LOTF: Last of the Allegories What is an ALLEGORY? A figure of rhetoric. Speech or writing that communicates its point persuasively The use of symbols to portray a moral or message. Fables or parables are short allegories with one definite message Example: “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” In this fable, the boy is an allegory for children who do not tell the truth and are not believed in the end

LOTF: Last of the Allegories Allegory VS. Symbol They are similar, but an allegory is sustained longer, and is more fully detailed. Example: In LOTF, Piggy’s glasses symbolize intellect and knowledge. Example: In LOTF, the allegory of Piggy’s glasses express the eventual and unavoidable decline of mankind when faced with terms of survival.

LOTF: Last of the Allegories The Role of an Allegory Allegories were the method of choice for education many years ago. Why? Entertainment Easy to remember = Easy to pass on Underlying principles were used for teaching lessons

LOTF: Last of the Allegories The Decline of the Allegory We are a LITERALISTIC CULTURE grounded in an era of INSTANT GRATIFICATION (that including the information we receive). We are tired of figuring out “the message,” rather, we want it clearly delivered upfront. Proves why allegories are difficult to comprehend LOTF is one of the last novels to have substantial allegories

LOTF: Last of the Allegories Allegory Exposed in LOTF Political Allegory (think: WWII, Cold War, atomic destruction) Psychological Allegory (think: human psyche) Religious Allegory (think: Garden of Eden, Christ-like characters, God VS. Satan)

LOTF: Last of the Allegories Political Allegory The world was divided into two “camps”: Free World VS. Soviet Union. Which characters represent these two camps? The Cold War brought about fears of atomic destruction – those of which were materialized in LOTF.

LOTF: Last of the Allegories Psychological Allegory Freudian Understanding of the Human Psyche: The Id: The part of the unconscious mind that works to gratify its own impulses. Character? The Superego: Part of the mind that seeks to control impulsive behavior (of the Id). Character? The Ego: Part of the mind that mediates between the Id’s demand for pleasure and the controlled thoughts of the Superego. Character?

LOTF: Last of the Allegories Religious Allegory The Garden of Eden = the island Describes the perfect living condition with food/water, good weather, etc. Favorable details show its (close-to) “perfect” state: UTOPIA. Golding portrays this “Eden” with a sense of evil at the same time to create a foreboding of something terrible. The island ends up in a state of misery: DYSTOPIA.

LOTF: Last of the Allegories Religious Allegory Piggy = the “fall” of mankind Lord of the Flies = Satan/evil (living inside mankind) Simon = quiet/observer; always does good to benefit others (littluns); used as the sacrificial lamb; he is the Christ-like symbol. His encounter with the Lord of the Flies is important because it represents something pure/good VS. evil in its worst form (Satan).

LOTF: Last of the Allegories Name Meanings Ralph = Anglo-Saxon word meaning, “council” Piggy = vulnerability comparable to vulnerability of pigs on the island; how much the other boys dislike him because of his intelligence (pigs = smart) Jack = Hebrew word, “Yakov,” meaning “one who deceives” or “one who takes over” Simon = Hebrew word, “one who listens,” “one who observes,” was one of Christ’s disciples Roger = “famous with the spear” Satan = Greek name translated to = Beelzebub = translated to “Lord of the Flies” (the pig’s head surrounded by flies)

LOTF: Last of the Allegories The Island and the real world Examine the microcosm… The island is a representation of what is happening in the outside world. Destruction and chaos are imitated within the “society” set up by the boys. Isn’t it ironic… Without realizing it, the boys have created the same society from which they were being protected.

LOTF: Last of the Allegories Major Themes in LOTF Darkness of the heart is an innate human trait Anarchy and savagery are direct results of man’s inability to follow society’s set rules Our morals are a direct result of our surroundings – if our environment fails, our morals fail, and the human race/civilization ultimately fails.

LOTF: Last of the Allegories TASK 1: Lord of the Flies is an Allegorical Novel. What do the following represent? (Provide textual evidence.) Ralph/Piggy/Simon/Jack/Roger/Conch/Glasses/ Island/Beast/Lord of the Flies TASK 2: Answer the following question using textual evidence and be prepared to discuss with the class: What happens literally to the boys, and what is the author saying metaphorically about the structures of civilization? TASK 3: Debate the following hot topic in your group and be prepared to discuss with the class: Is man born with an innate sense of good… or an innate sense of evil?