The Use of Symbolism in The Lord of the Flies by William...

The Use of Symbolism in The Lord of the Flies by William Golding A symbol is something concrete that represents another thing or idea. In Lord Of The Flies a lot of things we encounter are given symbolic meaning by the way the author William Golding uses them. The book it’s self is named after a symbol, the words â€Å"Lord Of The Flies† translated means â€Å"Beelzebub† which is another word for â€Å"the devil† the book was named after the devil because evil has a large influence on the book and it’s characters. Evil takes dominance in the book over the power of good and causes death suffering and prevents the establishment of civilisation by the means of chaos and anarchy. From the second that William†¦show more content†¦The lightening sets the atmosphere to suggest terror, chaos and fear, in the present and future. After Simon is killed and the â€Å"beast† drifts away from the island the weather changes and becomes the aftermath of the past â€Å"Towards midnight the rain ceased and the clouds drifted away, so that the sky was scattered once more with the incredible lamps of stars.† The weather conditions changed after Simon’s death to signify the chaos was over and the threat namely the â€Å"beast† was no more. As extensive research I investigated Golding’s deeper meanings of names. Although it is not explained in the book, Golding uses symbolism through the characters’ names to explain their actions and personalities. Golding chose the names from the languages of Hebrew – Jack and Simon, Germanic - Roger and Anglo-Saxon – Ralph. In these languages the characters’ names mean.  · Jack – â€Å"One who supplants† which explains the actions of Jack supplying people with meat.  · Simon – â€Å"The listener† which explains the actions of Simon listening carefully to the group and the Lord Of The Flies.  · Roger – â€Å"Spear† which suggests he is extremely violent and a tool of evil or death.  · Ralph – â€Å"Counsel† this explains his suggestions and natural gift of leadership. Golding chose these names as theyShow MoreRelatedIn the novel Lord of the Flies William Golding uses many forms of symbolism to point out the600 Words   |  3 PagesIn the novel Lord of the Flies William Golding uses many forms of symbolism to point out the underlying conflicts in their society. By using these symbols he makes the reader not only think about the problems that arise in the book, but also hints towards problems in our society today. The story uses the conch, fire, and the glasses to reference other meanings in the story. These symbols play a crucial part in the story in which they provide the reader with information that isn’t directly statedRead MoreWilliam Golding s Lord Of The Flies 1299 Words   |  6 PagesSavagery in Civilization: Symbolism in Lord of the Flies Symbolism as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary, is â€Å"the use of symbols to express or represent ideas or qualities in literature, art, etc.† (â€Å"Symbolism†). For this reason, symbolism is utilized in literature in order to make novels more interesting and convey notions that are usually either highly controversial or extremely philosophical. For example in the popular novel A Separate Peace, John Knowles uses Gene in order to depict theRead MoreThe Powers of the Symbols in Lord of the Flies929 Words   |  4 PagesLord of the Flies is a novel that is all about symbols that have different powers which is used on the boys. 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Every person, when faced with reality, may act civil now, but in a survival situation, human nature takes overRead MoreLord of The Flies Essay1673 Words   |  7 PagesLord of the Flies was published in 1954 by William Golding. Today Lord of the Flies is a well known literary criticism. Many schools require their students to read Lord of the Flies because of the literary criticisms in the book. In this paper three themes or literary criticisms are ta lked about: good vs. evil, symbolism of characters, and maturity of characters. Another topic in Goldings Lord of the Flies is the battle of good vs. evil. 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The novels, Lord of The Flies by William Golding and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, demonstrate this prospect as through the narrative techniques of characterisation, plot, setting and style, they exemplify the moral decline of man under pressure to survive, ultimately resulting in savagery. Characterisation plays a major role in both texts as each character serves as a representation humanity and the faults within it. Throughout Lord of the Flies there is a developingRead MoreWilliam Golding s Lord Of The Flies1119 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is human nature? How does William Golding use it in such a simple story of English boys to precisely illustrate how truly destructive humans can be? Golding was in World War Two, he saw how destructive humans can be first hand, and how ‘normal’ people can turn into savages. In the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Golding uses the theme of human nature to show how easily society can fall, and how self-destructive human nature is towards itself. Throughout the story there are recurringRead More Struggle Between Good and Evil in William Goldings Lord of the Flies1186 Words   |  5 PagesGood and Evil in William Goldings Lord of the Flies   Ã‚  Ã‚   Evil is not an external force controlled by the devil, but rather the potential for evil resides within each person. Man has the potential to exhibit great kindness or to rape and pillage. In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding deals with this evil that exists in the heart of man. With his mastery of such literary tool as structure, syntax, diction, point of view and presentation of character, Golding allows the readerRead MoreEssay on Symbolism in Lord of the Flies, by William Golding912 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in Lord of the Flies, by William Golding 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