Piggy, one of the most important characters in William Golding’s novel Lord of The Flies, is fat, ugly, and the only child on the island who wears glasses. Despite his outward appearance, he is as sharp as a sword, as his intelligence and maturity outrank that of anyone else on the island. He is often second-guessed, overlooked, and even abused by others because he is an easy target. A main reason the boy’s governing entity fails miserably is that Piggy is largely ignored. Piggy’s mistreatment by others on the island symbolizes the loss and ignorance of rationality when civilization breaks down and a lower level of existence takes over.
Piggy is the most intelligent and pragmatic of the boys in Lord of the Flies. While the others debate hunting …show more content…
The attitudes of others towards Piggy symbolize anti-intellectualism in not just uncivilized but civilized society as well. Jack’s disdain for Piggy emphasizes the former; Ralph’s ignorance of Piggy at the beginning the latter—the wild hungry savage and the strong handsome leader respectively abusing and ignoring the more intelligent but weaker. Ralph initially looks down on Piggy. During their first meeting, after Ralph tells Piggy his name, Piggy “waited to be asked his name in turn but this proffer of acquaintance was not made” (Golding 9). By not even bothering to learn Piggy’s name, Ralph is essentially distances himself from Piggy. Although Ralph later warms up to Piggy’s positive characteristics and personality, his id-driven rival Jack continues to disrespect Piggy and never takes him seriously. When discussing the failure of Ralph’s plan for a fire, Piggy says, “‘...We ought to be more careful. I’m scared—’” (Golding 45) and Jack replies “You’re always scared. Yah—Fatty!” (Golding 45). Jack takes everyone’s opinion with a grain of salt but goes out of his way to insult …show more content…
Talking personally to Ralph after reports of creatures in the night, Piggy replies, “‘Course there aren’t” (Golding 92) when asked if ghosts or other supernatural beings exist. Piggy realizes the danger of this type of irrational thinking, but his reassurance is ignored and therefore cannot stop the damage done to the boys by fear. Jack then uses the invisible beast to instill a common enemy into the hearts of his followers, using the mantra “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!” (Golding 152) to tighten his ruling grip. In this case, Piggy’s logic cannot save the boys—it is beaten by the more powerful weapon of fear. When Piggy dies from falling, Ralph’s reign of reason is finally demolished. Symbolically, this loss represents the loss of rationality in the fall of civilization. Golding uses this example to further the theme of savagery versus rationality, showing that when left to their own devices nearly all humans are capable of
Piggy is the most intelligent and pragmatic of the boys in Lord of the Flies. While the others debate hunting …show more content…
The attitudes of others towards Piggy symbolize anti-intellectualism in not just uncivilized but civilized society as well. Jack’s disdain for Piggy emphasizes the former; Ralph’s ignorance of Piggy at the beginning the latter—the wild hungry savage and the strong handsome leader respectively abusing and ignoring the more intelligent but weaker. Ralph initially looks down on Piggy. During their first meeting, after Ralph tells Piggy his name, Piggy “waited to be asked his name in turn but this proffer of acquaintance was not made” (Golding 9). By not even bothering to learn Piggy’s name, Ralph is essentially distances himself from Piggy. Although Ralph later warms up to Piggy’s positive characteristics and personality, his id-driven rival Jack continues to disrespect Piggy and never takes him seriously. When discussing the failure of Ralph’s plan for a fire, Piggy says, “‘...We ought to be more careful. I’m scared—’” (Golding 45) and Jack replies “You’re always scared. Yah—Fatty!” (Golding 45). Jack takes everyone’s opinion with a grain of salt but goes out of his way to insult …show more content…
Talking personally to Ralph after reports of creatures in the night, Piggy replies, “‘Course there aren’t” (Golding 92) when asked if ghosts or other supernatural beings exist. Piggy realizes the danger of this type of irrational thinking, but his reassurance is ignored and therefore cannot stop the damage done to the boys by fear. Jack then uses the invisible beast to instill a common enemy into the hearts of his followers, using the mantra “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!” (Golding 152) to tighten his ruling grip. In this case, Piggy’s logic cannot save the boys—it is beaten by the more powerful weapon of fear. When Piggy dies from falling, Ralph’s reign of reason is finally demolished. Symbolically, this loss represents the loss of rationality in the fall of civilization. Golding uses this example to further the theme of savagery versus rationality, showing that when left to their own devices nearly all humans are capable of