Symbols Used In Lord Of The Flies

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Symbolism Used In Lord of the Flies
Symbolism is included in all stories to express a deeper meaning. Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding is a novel that reveals the adventures and adversities of young boys stranded on a vacant island. In the story there are many things that operate as symbols, yet the three that stood out the most were the glasses Piggy wore, the conch Ralph found, and the scar on the island.
The first symbol introduced was Piggy’s glasses. “His specs - use them as burning glasses” (40). Piggy’s glasses portray scientific innovation and intelligence in the world. The use of his glasses aided the boys in being able to spark a fire. Without his spectacles, the children would not have accomplished starting a fire as swiftly as they did with them. The smoke from the fire was to be used as a signal, so that they may be rescued by any passers. In the real world, scientific knowledge can either
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“Beyond the falls and cliffs there was a gash visible in the trees; there were splintered trunks and then the drag, leaving only a fringe of palm between the scar and the sea” (29). The scar demonstrates how humans are able to eradicate something so beautiful, like the piece of land the boys were on, without any remorse for their actions at all. Before the plane crashed and landed on the island, it represented the Garden of Eden, but after the plane hit and the kids took over, it became debauched and sabotaged. The scar also depicts the turmoil in society when there are no more guidelines and people are left to their own devices.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel about juvenile boys that were involved in a plane crash causing them to be stuck on an island. Although the novel had numerous symbols, the three most prominent were Piggy’s glasses, the conch, and the scar. Writers are able to utilize symbolism and make the story become clever with the hidden messages they