Psychological

According to Sigmund Freud, the human subconscious is divided into three parts: the id, ego, and superego. The id is the primal and selfish part of the subconscious that works to satisfy one’s basic needs. The superego is the moral consciousness that directs people to follow the rules rather than act selfishly. The ego is the realistic part that mediates between the id and superego.

In Lord of the Flies, Jack represents the id. He succumbs to savagery in order to fulfill his personal pleasure rather than acting logically with his ego or superego, thus directly satisfying his selfish desires. This means that Golding conveys the message that savagery is the default state in order to convey man’s most primal desires. Without the influence of civilization, the boys are able to satisfy their inner desire for violence.

Piggy represents the superego. He maintains his ties to civilization throughout the novel, and expects everyone else to act similarly. He never engages in any hunts, and while Ralph occasionally forgets that the fire is necessary for rescue, Piggy reminds him of rescue. His specs represent the power of intellect and he was the one to find the conch, which ties back to the superego’s tenants of order and reason. Additionally, Piggy and Jack share a mutual hatred for each other, symbolizing the discord between the id and superego.

Ralph represents the ego. While he maintains his ties to civilization they are not as strong as Piggy’s, and Ralph frequently toes the line between savage and civil. He occasionally participates in hunts and Jack’s feasts, even though Ralph’s role on the island is to maintain order. In the beginning of the novel Ralph was friends with both Jack and Piggy and was able to compromise with both of them, symbolizing the ego’s ability to intermediate the desires of the ego and superego. Ralph’s control over the boys in the beginning of the novel demonstrates the ego’s control over the human subconscious. He is able to simultaneously recognize that Jack needs the power to go hunting, and that the boys need to maintain order through building shelters and maintaining the fire.

Simon represents humanity. He isn’t completely devoted to his id or his ego, as seen in his simultaneous willingness to help Ralph build shelters and venture into the forest in the middle of the night to go back to Piggy. He maintains his morality throughout the entire story, unlike Ralph who occasionally is tempted by savagery. Simon’s clairvoyance and early realization about the savagery in man after his encounter with the beast enforce the idea that his defining characteristic is his humanity.