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Lord of the Flies essay - Grade: A
Course: english (00932jddd)
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Lord of the Flies Topic 5- Symbols That Show Savagery vs. Civilization
Savagery lives in every living thing, but what separates humans from animals is
the ability to hide the cruelty and violence through civilization and control over
emotional turmoil. The urge for power over others and possession of what they have
exists in the way people and animals act. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses
symbolism to create a thought-provoking representation of human instinct. With only the
need for survival remaining, the well-mannered English boys whose plane crashed onto
an island turn into vicious monsters who only care about protecting themselves. Golding
explores the major differences between good, evil, and the grey area in the middle where
people tend to dwell by using characters, nature, and every day objects to exemplify the
development into savagery.
While trapped on the islands, the boys need plans and brains in order to survive
and accomplish the awful tasks they need to perform. Piggy, the smartest on the island,
uses his skill and intellect to provide as much civilization as he can. Because of his bad
eyesight, Piggy needs glasses to give him clarity. Golding shows the importance of a
clear state of mind and the strength of intelligence through Piggy’s glasses. Immediately,
Piggy’s entrance into the story separates him as the only boy with glasses because it gives
his character a special emphasis about his intelligence and scientific impact on the island.
Piggy’s clear state of mind allows him to focus on every duty he has and make sure that
others are able to do their own duties. Without the glasses, the necessary possession of
fire would not exist, and hope for survival would be lost. Jack says to the frantic group,
“His specs--use them as burning glasses!” (Golding 40). While physically Piggy was
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