Symbol of the Beast
“Maybe there is a beast… maybe it 's only us,” said William Golding, Lord of the Flies. When a symbol is examined, many conclusions can be drawn by relating the symbol to society and real life. If society believes something to be true, then one may only be exposed to one viewpoint, and this is why examining all the different aspects of a symbol are important. One may believe a beast is a wild large, vicious animal that is dangerous, but a beast can also be categorizing the behavior of an individual. In the novel Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, even though the beast does represent something one can hurt or kill, as a symbol it represents a larger concept because it brings out the brute personalities of the boys on the island, illustrates Jack’s dominant personality, and portrays the undefeatable traits inside all humans. …show more content…
A representation of the boys personalities can be seen by the quote, ‘“I’m frightened of us. Want to go home”’(57). Ralph, who represents leadership and order, says this as he realizes that each of them took part in killing an innocent thing, which turned out to be Simon. This shows that the boys’ savage instincts are making each of them behave like beasts. Ralph is ‘frightened’ by the fact that the boys had the ability within them to kill an innocent human being. Another quote that implies that the beast is within the boys is, ‘“There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the beast… Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hurt and kill”’ (143). Simon’s conversation with the Pig’s head on a stick proves that Simon considers the beast fake. Ironically, Simon is the only person who knows that the beast was a visual representation of their barbaric
“Maybe there is a beast… maybe it 's only us,” said William Golding, Lord of the Flies. When a symbol is examined, many conclusions can be drawn by relating the symbol to society and real life. If society believes something to be true, then one may only be exposed to one viewpoint, and this is why examining all the different aspects of a symbol are important. One may believe a beast is a wild large, vicious animal that is dangerous, but a beast can also be categorizing the behavior of an individual. In the novel Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, even though the beast does represent something one can hurt or kill, as a symbol it represents a larger concept because it brings out the brute personalities of the boys on the island, illustrates Jack’s dominant personality, and portrays the undefeatable traits inside all humans. …show more content…
A representation of the boys personalities can be seen by the quote, ‘“I’m frightened of us. Want to go home”’(57). Ralph, who represents leadership and order, says this as he realizes that each of them took part in killing an innocent thing, which turned out to be Simon. This shows that the boys’ savage instincts are making each of them behave like beasts. Ralph is ‘frightened’ by the fact that the boys had the ability within them to kill an innocent human being. Another quote that implies that the beast is within the boys is, ‘“There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the beast… Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hurt and kill”’ (143). Simon’s conversation with the Pig’s head on a stick proves that Simon considers the beast fake. Ironically, Simon is the only person who knows that the beast was a visual representation of their barbaric