Conch In Lord Of The Flies

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It is said that civilization is like a thin layer of ice upon a deep ocean of chaos and darkness. Once someone stomps on that layer, all will fall into disorder, much like the moment the conch shatters in William Golding’s allegorical novel, Lord of the Flies. The story takes place during World War II, on an uncharted island where a plane crashes. The island is a microcosm of the world’s state during the war. The plane crash leaves many survivor boys, whom we follow throughout the novel. Two of the boys, Ralph and Piggy, discover a beautiful conch shell in the lagoon. If we follow the conch throughout the story, we can see that it symbolizes precious civilizing forces such as democracy and law and order. The more the boys disregard it or mistreat …show more content…
At one point, the boys try to kindle a fire at the top of the island’s mountain, but get restless when there is no success. “‘I got the conch,’ said Piggy indignantly. ‘You let me speak!’ ‘The conch doesn’t count on top of the mountain,’ said Jack, ‘so you shut up’” (42). This is where the conch’s authority weakens. The boys agree to the rule that only the conch bearer may speak, but Jack violates that rule and shuts Piggy up. It is often shown throughout the novel that the conch’s authority does not appeal to Jack. However, he, like the rest of the stranded survivors, still respect the rules of the conch, which means they still respect authority and the democracy they co-created. Jack attempts a coup against Ralph as chief. To Jack’s surprise, his scheme falls short. He tears up when no one is willing to support him. “He laid the conch with great care in the grass at his feet. The humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye” (127). Jack has shown hate toward the rule of the conch many times. In his state of humiliation and frustration, he could have smashed the conch. Instead he sets the fragile thing carefully. Although Jack despises the conch, he still displays respect for it. This implies that in spite of what individuals may think of a governing body, they still uphold to the laws set in …show more content…
Ralph and his few followers encounter Jack and his hunters, who were camouflaged in the jungles. Ralph “put the conch to his lips and began to blow. Savages appeared, painted out of recognition, edging round the ledge toward the neck” (175). Even after their revolt, the hunters still react to the conch’s trumpet in awe. This demonstrates that the hunters still recognize the authority of the conch. However, their respect ceases. Ralph and Jack, along with their respective supporters. They hear a boulder tumbling from above. “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin mew to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist” (181). This is the last of the conch, and Piggy is brutally murdered. This parallels the fall of the boys’ society and humanity. The conch symbolizes that their society was ever so fragile and inevitably destroyed along with Piggy.
By tracking and analyzing the conch’s significance throughout the novel, Lord of the Flies, we can conclude that without authority and law and order, society will destroy itself. When the stranded boys have no sense of authority, they lose control. Their humanity deteriorates as they undo their established democracy. The conch’s shattering symbolizes the destruction of their civility. Perhaps if the boys had elected a different figure of authority, such as an adult rather than a seashell, they might
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