Symbolism In Lord Of The Flies
Symbolism in Lord of the Flies
In Lord of the Flies, a novel illustrating the various imperfections of human nature, William Golding employs symbolism to show that man is essentially evil. Golding uses the island to illustrate the decline of decency and morality among the boys. The author?s use of symbolism is primarily to display man?s capacity for brutality. The fire and the beast represent the inherent evil of mankind. Golding develops the idea that without the rigid rules of society, man?s ability for destruction empowers savagery.
A main symbol in the novel is the island. The island?s boat-shape represents the movement from civilized behaviour to savagery. ?The island was roughly boat-shaped: humped near this end. The tide was running, and for a moment they felt that the boat was moving steadily astern? (31). The island depicts the human world of civilization, filled with death and destruction. The boat?s movement astern symbolizes the decline of order, reason and ethics on the island. The initial authority on the island is eventually destroyed by the boys? disregard for morals. Due to isolation from society, life on the island changes drastically from a system of order to a war among the boys. The conch loses
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