Disguising the Truth
Symbolism is the use of symbols as a way to emphasize a specific idea. All writers use symbolism in their stories to help them explain a crucial idea to the reader without coming out and telling the person that is reading the story. One book that shows many examples of this symbolism throughout the plot is Lord of the Flies by William Golding. One object that is a big symbol through the whole story as the plot progresses is the mask. This mask is worn by many of the characters in the story and is drawn on with materials that these characters find lying around on the island. Through symbolism, Golding shows that the mask has its own identity, controls the actions of the boys, allows the boys to hide from what …show more content…
The boys feel that, as long as they have the mask on, nothing is their fault or wrong doing. At one point in the story, Jack holds a feast for all the boys on the island. Simon comes out of nowhere and the boys end up killing Simon and mistaking him for the beast. After the feast, Golding writes that "surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures, itself a silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations, Simon's dead body moved out toward the open sea" (154). In this quote, Simon's lifeless body is being taken out to the open sea by the waves. The boys were so content on killing the beast that they just killed Simon without even taking a look at who he was. The mask plays an important role in this part of the story because while wearing the mask, the boys feel that they can do anything and not have consequences. After realizing what had happened to Simon, Jack shows no emotion because "[his] blush was hidden by the red and white clay" (161). This mask is being used to cover Jack's real identity so he does not feel at fault for Simon's death. At the same time, the mask is covering up Jack's embarrassment and other emotions with all the clay on his face. The boys live life on the island the same way some people live their everyday lives against the rule of …show more content…
In a sense of individual versus society, people use these masks to hide their real identity so they can do what they want or to hide from something bad that they have already done. In Lord of the Flies, the boys that are stranded on the island use the mask as if all society was against them. Before the mask was introduced into the story, Jack says that "'We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything'"(42). Jack is saying that the boys should be organized and civil so they can live up to the english standard and be the best they can be. The mask is first introduced into the story for the boys to hunt pigs easier. As more bad things start to happen and they are becoming more savage than civil, just like individual versus society, the boys use this mask to run and hide from all of their problems. Also, they use the mask as a permanent identity when times get really tough and the situation gets out of
Symbolism is the use of symbols as a way to emphasize a specific idea. All writers use symbolism in their stories to help them explain a crucial idea to the reader without coming out and telling the person that is reading the story. One book that shows many examples of this symbolism throughout the plot is Lord of the Flies by William Golding. One object that is a big symbol through the whole story as the plot progresses is the mask. This mask is worn by many of the characters in the story and is drawn on with materials that these characters find lying around on the island. Through symbolism, Golding shows that the mask has its own identity, controls the actions of the boys, allows the boys to hide from what …show more content…
The boys feel that, as long as they have the mask on, nothing is their fault or wrong doing. At one point in the story, Jack holds a feast for all the boys on the island. Simon comes out of nowhere and the boys end up killing Simon and mistaking him for the beast. After the feast, Golding writes that "surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures, itself a silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations, Simon's dead body moved out toward the open sea" (154). In this quote, Simon's lifeless body is being taken out to the open sea by the waves. The boys were so content on killing the beast that they just killed Simon without even taking a look at who he was. The mask plays an important role in this part of the story because while wearing the mask, the boys feel that they can do anything and not have consequences. After realizing what had happened to Simon, Jack shows no emotion because "[his] blush was hidden by the red and white clay" (161). This mask is being used to cover Jack's real identity so he does not feel at fault for Simon's death. At the same time, the mask is covering up Jack's embarrassment and other emotions with all the clay on his face. The boys live life on the island the same way some people live their everyday lives against the rule of …show more content…
In a sense of individual versus society, people use these masks to hide their real identity so they can do what they want or to hide from something bad that they have already done. In Lord of the Flies, the boys that are stranded on the island use the mask as if all society was against them. Before the mask was introduced into the story, Jack says that "'We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything'"(42). Jack is saying that the boys should be organized and civil so they can live up to the english standard and be the best they can be. The mask is first introduced into the story for the boys to hunt pigs easier. As more bad things start to happen and they are becoming more savage than civil, just like individual versus society, the boys use this mask to run and hide from all of their problems. Also, they use the mask as a permanent identity when times get really tough and the situation gets out of