Social

The plot, characters, and themes in Lord of the Flies represent something bigger than just a group of boys stranded on a deserted island; they represent facets of society.

Simon, the spiritual and moral compass of the story, embodies the concept of humanism. This school of thought was originally popularized in the fifteenth century during the time of the Renaissance, and it emphasized the value, potential, and goodness of human beings. As the only character who truly exhibits an innate sense of morality, Simon is the perfect representation of humanism. He is not only kind to everyone on the island, but he often takes walks around the island to connect to himself and the universe. Simon is the first one to realize the significance and meaning of the beast, for he suggests, “Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us” (125-126). Simon recognizes that the boys are their own worst enemy because they possess a darkness inside of them, and he tries to make them aware of this. However, the boys disregard Simon’s morality and their final rejection of human benevolence is symbolized by their brutal murder of Simon.

Piggy, the intellectual, represents technology and the rational side of human society. He is the only character who wears glasses, a symbol of logic, and his glasses become a key part of the boy’s ability to make fire. Likewise, Piggy stresses the importance of fire, food, and shelter to the boys’ chances of survival. Despite his lack of physical strength, Piggy knows how to utilize the resources in his environment. Piggy is the boys’ last connection to civilization, and his death results in the island’s descent into utter chaos.

Ralph, the leader, represents government and order. He, like Piggy, believes in the importance of building shelter, making fire, and creating a structured society on the island. Per Piggy’s suggestion, Ralph uses a conch to demonstrate leadership over the boys and give them a sense of civilization that feels like home. However, despite Ralph’s attempts to remain moral and civilized, he realizes that savagery exists in all the boys… even him. He participates in the murder of Simon and begins to forget the importance of getting rescued. Basically, Ralph proves that even the most civilized of governments are susceptible to corruption and evil.

Jack, the savage, represents power and human’s capacity for violence. From the beginning of the novel, Jack only cares about power and exerting control over the other boys. At first, civilization still has influence over him and Jack struggles to kill a pig, but as time goes on, he is able to disregard social norms and becomes obsessed with hunting. Jack’s recklessness and power intrigues the other boys and speaks to their inner savages, so quickly many convert to Jack’s barbaric way of living. Jack uses the boys’ fear of the beast to maintain control over them, and by the end of the novel, all of the boys are infatuated with the powerful feeling they not only get from killing pigs, but each other.