In society, each person plays a vital role and serves a great importance. When abused or belittled, these roles can turn into scourges. This concept is delineated in William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies. After their plane crashes on a deserted island, a group of schoolboys attempt to create a functional and organized society whilst being forced to cope with the fact that there are no adults amongst them. Consequently, conflict and savagery emerge, leaving the boys with designated ranks consisting of varying levels of respect. These symbolic roles are the ultimate source of the boys’ corruption and failure to maintain order. Symbols, including Ralph, representing authority, Piggy, representing intelligence, and Jack, representing inhumanity,
…show more content…
This ignoration greatly contributes to the downfall of the microsociety inaugurated by the boys. Piggy holds the power to recognize the impactful mistakes made by the other boys. This is discovered when Piggy exclaims, “‘What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? What’s grownups going to think? Going off--hunting pigs--letting fires out--and now!’” (Golding 91). Piggy pointing out some prominent mistakes made by the hunters exposes his ability to fully understand difficult circumstances whilst others cannot. This ability to fully comprehend tight situations, an unlikely skill for a child to develop, exposes his true and exceptional knowledge. The fact that Piggy can recognize the boys’ transition into “‘savages’” sets him apart from the rest due to his supreme intelligence. When the boys “‘[hunt] pigs’” and “‘[let] fires out[,]’” their ultimate goals are straying away surviving and getting rescued and are turning into merely hunting and killing. Piggy, being the first and only one to acknowledge this devolution amongst the boys, is symbolic of understanding. Secondly, Piggy’s intelligence is exemplified through his realization of the hunters’ complete turnover to savagery. He confronts the hunters by saying, “‘Which is better--to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?’ A great clamor rose among the savages. Piggy shouted …show more content…
This can be seen when Jack paints his own war mask. Whilst staring at a reflection of himself in the mask, Jack “looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger [...] He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling [...] and the mask became a thing of its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness” (Golding 63-64). By wearing the mask, Jack acquires the ability to conceal his true, “self-conscious” being and, as a result, his savagery is evoked. Jack even begins to lose sight of who he truly is when he looks “ no longer at himself” but at a boy consumed by viciousness. Similarly, Jack’s exuberant dancing with “bloodthirsty snarling” exhibits his transition into a savage hunter. Through this event, the symbolism of Jack as inhumanity and self-corruption is exposed. Additionally, Jack’s iniquity is made clear after revering a vile force. After killing a sow and piercing a stick through its decapitated head, Jack admires his creation and exclaims, “‘This head is for the beast. It’s a gift’” (Golding 137). The “‘beast’” is an illusion conjured up by the younger, more frightened boys. It is this misconception that fills the boys with fear, furthering their hostility. With this in mind, Jack’s gift “‘for the beast’” reveals his true savagery. By showing respect and devotion towards an evil force,
This ignoration greatly contributes to the downfall of the microsociety inaugurated by the boys. Piggy holds the power to recognize the impactful mistakes made by the other boys. This is discovered when Piggy exclaims, “‘What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? What’s grownups going to think? Going off--hunting pigs--letting fires out--and now!’” (Golding 91). Piggy pointing out some prominent mistakes made by the hunters exposes his ability to fully understand difficult circumstances whilst others cannot. This ability to fully comprehend tight situations, an unlikely skill for a child to develop, exposes his true and exceptional knowledge. The fact that Piggy can recognize the boys’ transition into “‘savages’” sets him apart from the rest due to his supreme intelligence. When the boys “‘[hunt] pigs’” and “‘[let] fires out[,]’” their ultimate goals are straying away surviving and getting rescued and are turning into merely hunting and killing. Piggy, being the first and only one to acknowledge this devolution amongst the boys, is symbolic of understanding. Secondly, Piggy’s intelligence is exemplified through his realization of the hunters’ complete turnover to savagery. He confronts the hunters by saying, “‘Which is better--to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?’ A great clamor rose among the savages. Piggy shouted …show more content…
This can be seen when Jack paints his own war mask. Whilst staring at a reflection of himself in the mask, Jack “looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger [...] He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling [...] and the mask became a thing of its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness” (Golding 63-64). By wearing the mask, Jack acquires the ability to conceal his true, “self-conscious” being and, as a result, his savagery is evoked. Jack even begins to lose sight of who he truly is when he looks “ no longer at himself” but at a boy consumed by viciousness. Similarly, Jack’s exuberant dancing with “bloodthirsty snarling” exhibits his transition into a savage hunter. Through this event, the symbolism of Jack as inhumanity and self-corruption is exposed. Additionally, Jack’s iniquity is made clear after revering a vile force. After killing a sow and piercing a stick through its decapitated head, Jack admires his creation and exclaims, “‘This head is for the beast. It’s a gift’” (Golding 137). The “‘beast’” is an illusion conjured up by the younger, more frightened boys. It is this misconception that fills the boys with fear, furthering their hostility. With this in mind, Jack’s gift “‘for the beast’” reveals his true savagery. By showing respect and devotion towards an evil force,