Lord of the Flies: Themes and Symbolism

The boys' descent from organized assemblies and signal fires to painted faces and ritual murders demonstrates how fragile civilization is. Without society's structures, humans quickly revert to savagery, revealing that barbarism lies barely beneath the civilized surface.

Golding argues humans have innate capacity for evil. The beast isn't an external monster—it's the evil within all humans. Simon's realization that "maybe it's only us" reveals this truth before his murder.

What Does the Conch Symbolize?

The conch symbolizes law, order, and democratic civilization. Whoever holds it can speak at assemblies. Its destruction alongside Piggy's murder represents the complete collapse of civilized society and democratic principles.

What Does the Beast Represent?

The imagined beast represents the evil and savagery within human nature. Simon discovers it's actually a dead parachutist, but the real beast is the darkness inside all humans. The pig's head (Lord of the Flies) confirms this, telling Simon the beast is part of everyone.

The signal fire symbolizes hope for rescue and connection to civilization. When boys stop maintaining it, they're accepting savage island life over returning to society.

Piggy's glasses symbolize intellect, reason, and the power of science. They're used to make fire and are eventually stolen by Jack's tribe, showing knowledge's vulnerability and how savagery appropriates civilization's tools.