Ultimate Evil Through Symbolism example essay topic

Throughout the book "lord of the flies" golding tries to illustrate his arguments and theories of humans ultimate evil through symbolism. In this essay I will explain how golding tries to warp are minds through symbolism into believe the lies he is tries to tell us, in this case the conch, the fire and the pigs head. The conch from the very beginning, "a conch he called it. He used to blow it and then his mum would come. It's ever so valuable" (as he later realised). It is a symbol of democratic power and after jack's defeat in the early elections it is thus hated by jack.

It was decided early on that only the person holding it could talk, "Ralph smiled and held up the conch for silence". and this is thus firstly why it represents freedom of speech and democracy but secondly upon its destruction it shows the total brake down of society. The Fire is originally an idea of ralph as simply a chance of rescue", There's another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. so we must make smoke on the top of the mountain.

We must make a fire. "But as the book develops it symbolizes a lot more. It also represents danger because as we see at the end of the novel it could destroy them all "Now the fire was nearer; those volleying shots were great limbs, trunk even, bursting. The fools almost at the fruit trees-what would they eat tomorrow". In this way it is similar to the Norse god of fire Loki who is both ordered by the gods for his wit and humour but in the end brings about the destruction of them all. The pigs' head is originally thought of as a gift to the beast to rid it of destroying them, "The head is for the beast.

It's a gift". but it soon turns into more, it soon turns into a physical symbol of the boys inward evil (according to Golding), "Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill!" . Then later the beast says, "You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close!

I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are what they are?" The boys supposedly need this outward sign just to comprehend the evil, which is within them, and is thus used as a scape goat. This is why when Simon tries to tell them that the beast isn't real etc., "the beast struggled forward, broke the ring and fell over the steep edge of the rock to the sand by the water. T once the crowd surged after it, bit, tore.

There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws". In this description the beast is Simon. He has to be killed because he would do more damage to them living (or that's what they think) because he knows the truth about the beast and can prove it, which would make all the boys have to except that the evil is within them and not the beast. In conclusion symbolism is used effectively as a means of getting golding message across but I don't believe in the message he is portraying. The symbolism is in general a sign for what is right (democracy, freedom of speech etc). The pigs head is generally a sign of evil (the evil within themselves, the hunting and killing of simon etc.

). The fire though in the book was in the balance and could have beene used either for good or evil and ultimately did both, with the attempted murder of Ralph (evil) but the thus attraction of the navy (good). This is why I think symbolism can sometimes be pointless tool, because it is always open to interpretation and the reader can miss the point you are giving.