How Did Piggy Die in the Novel “Lord of the Flies”?

Answer

How did Piggy die in the novel “Lord of the Flies”?

In William Golding’s (1911 – 1993) novel “Lord of the Flies” (1954), Piggy is a smart but physically weak character. He meets a tragic death. His death symbolizes the loss of reason and civilization among the boys left on the island. Here are points detailing Piggy’s death:

Attack by Roger: Piggy’s death begins with an act of violence. Roger is one of the boys who has surrendered to the savagery on the island. He slowly pushes a massive boulder off a cliff towards Piggy and Ralph. Golding writes, 

High overhead, Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever.

This moment illustrates the complete breakdown of societal norms and the rule of law.

Fatal Blow: The boulder strikes Piggy directly. It causes him to fall to his death. Golding describes the scene vividly. This event symbolizes the destruction of rationality and order. Piggy was the voice of reason among the boys.

Loss of Intellectual Guidance: Piggy’s death represents the loss of intellectual guidance and morality on the island. Without Piggy, the boys are left without his pragmatic wisdom and logical thinking. Golding writes, 

The silence was complete. Ralph’s lips formed a word but no sound came. 

This silence signifies the absence of reason and the dominance of chaos.

In termination, Piggy’s death in “Lord of the Flies” is a significant moment. It symbolizes the collapse of civilization and the triumph of savagery among the boys left on the island.