Lord of Flies Analysis

1) The boys in Lord Of the Flies never listen to Piggy because even though he symbolizes logic, he never takes action to any of his plans. I mean how can I respect someone who tells me what to do but is completely lazy and never helps? For example, on page 18 Piggy suggest to make a list of all the boys’ names, this is the first idea Ralph listens to, and then puts Piggy in charge of, but then instead of doing his job, he does nothing. That right there is how he sets himself up for failure, by making a horrible first impression and makes his problems with people listening to him start. With that said I think Golding was trying to advance the novel’s theme of logic being worth nothing with no actions. One way he does this is when the when Piggy doesn’t take down the boys’ names and when the fire burns out, eventually making the idea of civilization “burn out”. This is why I think the boys never listened to Piggy.

In a way to relate the novel with research on Goldings personal life I think he may be the logic never listened to in his personal life. I think he really had something to say because he grew up to be a “science guy” and was attending a precious science focus school but to rebel dropped out and switched to an English major. When he achieved that he joined the Navy in 1940. Maybe he felt un-listened to in the Navy even though he was really smart and totally knew what the chiz he was doing. Possibly, Piggy in a sense represented how Golding was treated in the Navy.I think that is why the boys’ never listened to Piggy and how Golding used Piggy to symbolize themes, himself, and logic.

2) The dead parachutist in Lord of the Flies symbolized the death of civilization and loss of innocence. I think the death of civilization was shown through the parachutist by the simple fact that right when they found the parachutist, it was really the splitting points of the two groups. Also, the parachutist represents the end of civilization and loss of innocence by Ralph crushing the skull of the parachutist at the end before he’s hunted by the hunters. Another way the parachutist symbolizes loss of innocence was when the hunters kill Simon out of fear of the “beast” which they fear as the dead parachutist.

However, what the parachutist, Lord of the Flies and beast symbolizes is totally different. For example, the beast instilled fear and gives Jack power. For example, Jack says hunters can “kill” the beast to scare the lil’uns into Jacks power/ group. Then you have the Lord of the Flies, created purely by fear. While the parachutist and the beast instill fear the Lord of the Flies protects them from fear and reveals the true need for power in our hearts. For example, when Simon talks to the Lord of the Flies during his epileptic shock the Lord of the Flies revealed that the beast was imagined that it lived inside our hearts for the simple need for power. This is what the dead parachutist symbolizes and how it’s different from the Lord of the Flies and the beast.

3) The conch shell and the Lord of The Flies each have very different power over the boys. I think that the conch shell holds the need for society and in that way rules or has power over the boys. For example, at the beginning of the book they use the conch to call a meeting or assembly, to talk, and choose a leader. Then on the other end of the spectrum you have the Lord Of The Flies which has power over the boys by the need for protection, power, savatory, and the fear inside a persons heart. With that said you have the two leaders with their own symbol or values. Ralph, who uses the conch for good and civilization.

For example, in the first chapter during the assembly allowing others to talk, handing out responsibilities, and prioritizing. Then you have Jack with the need for power. For example, throughout the whole book he has this obsession with killing a pig for what i think is popularity and power. He also created the Lord of the Flies. While Ralph controls people with order and calamity. While Jack is fierce, brutal, and controls people with luxuries. For example, Jack uses the luxury of pig meat to get boys to join his tribe, while, Ralph uses shelter and order to make the littluns stay with him. So in a way the whole book is a battle, a battle of power. The battle is between which control is better savatory or civilization.

4) The littluns play a big part in the novel. One way I think the littluns are important in themselves because they make-up the “peasants” in other words they are like the biguns kids. That means they represent a sort-of “need” to have a society and homes. On top of that they confide in each other and find many food sources. For example, in the beginning the littluns were the first to find food. Also, in the beginning during the storm the littluns gathered together in one shelter to comfort or confide in one another.

Another time when they confided in each other is at night when they all cry together because they miss home. You also get a feeling of how each of the biguns were brought up at home. For example, because Robert continuously torchers Piercy at the beginning you can tell he always wants to hurt people. This idea continues as the book goes on and Robert becomes Jack’s tribe torture and eventually kills Piggy. Then you have Ralph, his father was in the Navy (or army?) so there was an obvious need for society and order in his household. You can also tell how he was raised because he was very caring and rational toward the littluns. This is how the littluns play a big role in Lord of the Flies.