Lord of the Flies : Literary devices
Lord of the Flies is a notable literary work by William Golding. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Lord of the Flies.
Literary devices
Symbols
Conch Shell: Order, Law, and Democracy
The conch shell is the most powerful symbol of order and rules. When Ralph and Piggy find it, they use it to call meetings. They use it to let everyone speak in turn. It stands for respect, fairness, and unity. As long as the conch is respected, the boys live peacefully. But when the conch is destroyed with Piggy’s death, all order ends. It shows how quickly law and democracy can disappear when people turn to chaos and violence.
Piggy’s Glasses: Reason, Knowledge, and Technology
Piggy’s glasses represent reason, knowledge, and technology. The boys use the glasses to start the signal fire. It shows how knowledge helps survival. Piggy always uses logic and reason, not violence. When Jack steals the glasses, he takes away not only Piggy’s sight but also the group’s sense of understanding and civilization. The breaking of the glasses means the breaking of reason and truth. Without knowledge, the boys become blind morally.
The Beast: Inner Human Evil and Fear
The “beast” stands for the fear and evil inside every human being. The boys think the beast is a real monster hiding in the jungle. But the beast is actually their own fear, anger, jealousy, and cruelty. This false beast they believe in causes panic and leads to murder. Golding shows that the real danger is not an outside creature but the beast within human beings.
The Lord of the Flies: The Devil Within Humanity
The “Lord of the Flies” is a pig’s head on a stick, covered with flies. It becomes a symbol of pure evil and corruption. It tells Simon that the beast is not something you can hunt or kill. Because it lives inside every person. It represents the devil within human nature — the love of blood, power, and cruelty.
The Signal Fire: Hope and Civilization
The signal fire represents hope—the boys’ wish to be rescued and return to the civilized world. When the fire burns bright, it means they still believe in order and teamwork. But when the fire goes out, it shows they are losing their sense of civilization.