Civilization is a socially constructed concept. Many civilizations use symbols to help understand a larger concept such as a flag, is simply a piece of cloth but we use it to symbolize an area. The novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, centers around a group of English boys who get stranded on an island and while on the island, they try to maintain a perfect civilization. The boys use objects to return normalcy into their lives. Golding uses the conch, the fire and the beast to portray the progression of a degrading civilization. The conch was a representation of the growing and changing civilization amongst the boys. It was used to communicate with the others on the island and help set a distinct set of rules for the boys to follow.
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In the beginning, the beast was an imagined phenomenon created by a littlun that the older boys refused to believe exist ( 87-88). Simon, another stranded boy, suggested that the beast may be within them when he realized the boys were beginning to doubt the existence of the beast (89). Sam and Eric, twins who were also stranded on the island, claimed that they’ve seen a dead parachutist flying in the sky which eventually the boys believe to be the beast who sits on the mountain top (96). They believe the beast prevents them from leaving the island by sitting by their fire on top of the mountain, which is their only hope of rescue (100-101). However, Simon encounters another beast which claims to be the lord of the flies that say to him, “Fancy thinking the beast was something you could kill and hunt. You knew didn’t you? … I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?” (143). This proves that all the problems the boys have been facing such as the major conflict between Jack and Ralph is because of the evil and darkness that has progressively grown within them. Therefore the beast represents the evil that ultimately leads to the degradation of innocence of the English
In the beginning, the beast was an imagined phenomenon created by a littlun that the older boys refused to believe exist ( 87-88). Simon, another stranded boy, suggested that the beast may be within them when he realized the boys were beginning to doubt the existence of the beast (89). Sam and Eric, twins who were also stranded on the island, claimed that they’ve seen a dead parachutist flying in the sky which eventually the boys believe to be the beast who sits on the mountain top (96). They believe the beast prevents them from leaving the island by sitting by their fire on top of the mountain, which is their only hope of rescue (100-101). However, Simon encounters another beast which claims to be the lord of the flies that say to him, “Fancy thinking the beast was something you could kill and hunt. You knew didn’t you? … I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?” (143). This proves that all the problems the boys have been facing such as the major conflict between Jack and Ralph is because of the evil and darkness that has progressively grown within them. Therefore the beast represents the evil that ultimately leads to the degradation of innocence of the English