1. Character study of Simon

2. Consider: His first appearance in Ch 1 Others’ opinions of him
His behaviour and attitude to others
His spiritual side
Attitude to the ‘beast’
How he is like the dead parachutist

3. Chapter 1 Biblical connotations of his name (one of Jesus’ disciples)
Throws a fit – Jack says ‘he’s always throwing a faint’: epileptic or touched by God?
Intense, quiet, thoughtful
But what he says is important
Shy at speaking in assemblies

4. Other’s opinion of him
Even Ralph and Piggy see him as ‘batty’ and ‘barmy’ (Christ was also seen like this by many)

5. Simon’s attitude to others
Generous e.g. gives food to Piggy and doesn’t fear Jack’s scorn
Feeds the little’uns (like Christ feeding the 5000)
Helps Ralph build shelters

6. Spiritual side
Has a secret place where he can contemplate beauty of nature, which could be compared to Christ’s time in the wilderness
He’s like a prophet, telling Ralph ‘you’ll get home’
He sees the evil within i.e. ‘mankind’s essential illness’
Butterfly symbolism – butterflies and Simon are both short-lived

7. Attitude to Beast
Learns the truth about the ‘beast’ when he climbs the mountain – courage to confront the ‘beast’
Ch 9 – tries to tell others that it isn’t a ‘beast’ – he’s murdered e.g. ‘tearing of teeth and claws’ – killed like Christ as no one wanted to hear his message, so he dies trying to spread the truth