Simon Lord Of The Flies Jesus Figure Essay

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“Maybe there is a beast....maybe it's only us” (Golding 89). As a prophet, Simon interprets interpret the human savagery that develops over the course of the novel. Simon, a main character in William Golding’s allegorical novel Lord of the Flies, is portrayed as a Jesus figure, as he is the only entirely moral boy on the island. Through a group of British schoolboys, Golding explores the underlying savagery in the human race. Simon’s actions, thoughts, and dialogue parallel Jesus in a multitude of ways. To begin, Simon’s behaviors connect him to being both a prophet and a Jesus figure. Simon cares for Piggy and the littluns, and, in fact, he “shoved a piece of meat over the rocks to Piggy” and in doing so enrages Jack (Golding 74). Simon, sensitive to the needs of others, generously helps Piggy after he is denied meat. In addition to aiding Piggy, Simon looks out for the littluns by picking the “fruit they could not reach”(Golding 56). While the other boys disregard the littluns, Simon cares for and acknowledges them, as he does for others on the island. Simon’s moral strength and generosity both exhibit his similarity to Jesus. Before his death, just as Jesus struggled to bear the cross, Simon’s “legs gave beneath him and the best he could do was stagger” (Golding 147). Also, after Simon's death, his body is “surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures” and is a “silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations” (Golding 154). Simon’s death symbolizes the death of Christ, as both try to spread a good message, but are ultimately murdered in the process. Also, Simon frees the parachutist's hands “from the rocks” and his body from “the wind’s indignity,” liberating him from the savagery of the island (Golding 147). Simon is a Christ figure, shown through both his generous actions towards others and the many aspects of his death. In addition to Simon’s actions, his thoughts and deep contemplation directly relate him to Jesus. Simon’s “conversation” with the Lord of the Flies occurs in his head during one of his epileptic fits. In his mind, the Lord of the Flies states, “fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill” (Golding 143). Similar to Jesus, Simon is a prophet, shown through his initial understanding that the beast is “only us” (Golding 89). When “[thinking] of the beast,” Simon visualizes a human “at one heroic and …show more content…
Simon, talking directly to Ralph, states “I just think you’ll get back all right” (111). As Jesus did, Simon helps and supports others, including Ralph by reassuring and comforting them. Due to his prophetic powers, Simon senses that Ralph will get back unharmed. In addition to perceiving that Ralph will be ok, he understands the beast is inside the boys themselves, claiming “maybe it's only us” (Golding 89). Piggy and many others believe this is “nuts,” just as thousands did not believe Jesus’ teachings (Golding 89). In addition to claiming he doesn't believe in the beast, Simon suggests that they “ought to climb the mountain” (Golding 128). Simon, assured that the beast is not a physical monster, is trying to help the boys to realize that there is no physical beast, displaying the kindness and foresight that both he and Jesus posses. Simon, the only pure character in the novel, reveals his connections and similarities to Christ through his suggestions and indirect

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