Powerful Symbol Of Civilization example essay topic

The Loss of Civilization Through Symbolism In his classic novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses many elements of symbolism to help the readers gain a greater understanding of his message. Symbolism can be anything, a person, place, or thing, used to portray something beyond its self. It is used to represent or foreshadow the conclusion of the story. As one reads this novel, he or she will begin to recognize the way basic civilization is slowly stripped away from the boys as conflict between civilization and savagery arises.

The conch shell represents power and authority. Whoever has the shell has the power to talk. The conch shows how people use objects to give power, like a crown. 'Conch?' 'That's what this shell's called. I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he's speaking (pg. 33).

' This shows that whoever holds the conch during meetings gets to speak At these meetings a sense of order is instilled because the boys have to wait until they hold the conch to speak. The conch becomes a powerful symbol of civilization. 'By the time Ralph had finished blowing the conch the platform was crowded. ' (Golding, 32) Ralph shows his leadership abilities as he recognizes the use of the conch. Ralph begins to take leadership over the boys by setting rules as using the conch to let everyone have a turn to speak. Another symbol of strength and command is the fire.

As long as the fire is well maintained, the boys show their desire to return back home, back to civilization. When the fire burns low or goes out, the boys lose vision of being rescued and start accepting their savage lives on the island. 'There was a ship. Out there. You said you'd keep the fire going and you let it out! They might have seen us.

We might have gone home. ' (Golding, 70) As the novel continues and the boys start to lose their sense of civilization; we learn that objects don't really give power when people choose not to obey it. Ralph says, 'Things are breaking up. I don't know why. We began well, we were happy. ' (Golding, 89) When it comes down to it, simple things, like people not thinking, make them capable of destruction.

Ralph was very popular in the beginning of the story, however as the novel proceeds and the society deteriorates, the popular leader is abandoned for a strong-armed dictator, Jack Merri dew. Jack was first described with an ugly sense of cruelty that made him naturally unlikable. Without adults as a superior and responsible authority, he began to lose his fear of being punished for improper actions and behaviors. There are always people who, in a group, come out with better qualities as a leader than others. The strongest people, however, become the greater influences, which the others decide to follow.

Jack only cares about being powerful he's not out for the benefit of everyone; he's only out for the benefit of himself. Symbolically Jack breaks away from good when he baptizes himself with the blood of the slaughtered pig. He discovered the paint allowed him to hide the forbidden thoughts in his mind that his facial expressions would otherwise betray. 'The mask was a thing on its own behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.

' (Golding, 69) Jack lusts for power and is driven to destroy anyone who gets in his way. Jack's need for chaotic behavior became the demise of the group. Within this small group of children, out broke a war of young savages where evil began to take each person who followed Jack. Finally, the Lord of the Flies is a symbol of the things we make up to be the cause for evil.

When Simon talked with the Lord of the Flies, he learned what the real evil was, which is the evil in people's hearts. Simon represents good, spirituality and natural human goodness. According to spark notes, 'Lord of the Flies' is a translation of the name of the biblical Beelzebub, a powerful demon in hell sometimes thought to be the devil himself. Simon is very similar to Jesus in this book; when Simon dies it was no longer relevant who did what because it was the entire society killed Simon.

Slowly they started to turn on each other becoming numb to all kinds of emotions and feelings. Ironically in the end, the fire that was suppose to kill Ralph ended up saving the lives of all that was left on the island. The objects, characters, and setting of this story all have parallels in the real world. They show us what happened in the story is not just a story.

They help prove the author's belief that humankind is savage and evil under the break down of civilization. Not everyone has so much evil hidden inside him or her to become complete savages when released from the barriers of our society. Some people will, because of the way they were brought up. The evil that happened in Lord of the Flies occurred because of the situations in their environment, the island, and what happened to them individually.

A person is not just plain evil or just good; we are all full of different characteristics because of the experiences that we have had, good experiences and bad; but in the end the strong will always survive.