Allegory in Lord of The Flies

William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, is an intriguing and thought-provoking story that has remained popular over the years. It takes place on a deserted island where a group of young boys are left to fend for themselves after a plane crash. As they try to survive, Golding uses allegory to delve into the darker sides of human nature and society. This essay will look at how Lord of the Flies works as an allegory, showing the evil that exists within people and society.

The Island as a Microcosm

One way Lord of the Flies acts as an allegory is through the island itself. The island serves as a mini-world, a small version of the larger world. Just like the boys are cut off on the island, society can often feel like it's cut off from the rest of the universe. The island is like a blank slate without any rules or societal structures. This lets Golding explore what happens when civilization is stripped away.

The island changes throughout the novel and reflects the boys' moral decline. At first, the island seems like a paradise with its lush plants and clear waters. But as the boys turn savage, the island becomes a dystopian nightmare, showing how destructive forces can ruin a society when there's no control.

The physical features of the island also have symbolic meanings. The Beast, a mythical creature that scares the boys, stands for the primal fears and instincts inside each person. This fear makes the boys imagine the Beast as real, showing their move towards irrationality and chaos. The island, then, becomes a visualization of the fight between civilization and savagery, emphasizing the allegorical nature of the story.

Characters as Symbols

Another big part of Lord of the Flies as an allegory is the characters themselves. They represent different aspects of human nature and society. Ralph, the main character, shows qualities of leadership, reason, and democracy. His efforts to create order and rules on the island symbolize the fight to keep civilization alive in the face of chaos.

Jack, on the other hand, represents the darker side of human nature, like savagery and a thirst for power. As the story goes on, Jack's obsession with hunting and control leads him to form his own group, which plunges the boys into violence and anarchy. Jack's change from a disciplined choirboy to a bloodthirsty leader shows the destructive potential inside people.

Simon is another important character who can be seen as a Christ-like figure, symbolizing spirituality and morality. His encounters with the "Lord of the Flies," a pig's head on a stick, highlight the inner battle between good and evil in each person. Simon's brutal death by the other boys represents the rejection of moral values and the triumph of evil.

By using these characters as symbols, Golding explores the complexities of human nature and the ongoing struggle between order and chaos, highlighting the allegory in the novel.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Lord of the Flies is a powerful allegorical novel that looks into the darker facets of human nature and society. Through the island as a microcosm and the characters as symbols, William Golding effectively shows the inherent evil within individuals and society as a whole. The allegorical elements in the book act as a warning, reminding readers of how fragile civilization is and what can happen when moral values are abandoned.

Lord of the Flies reminds us that the fight between good and evil isn't just in books but is a constant struggle within ourselves and the societies we build. It serves as a stark reminder that the thin layer of civilization can break, exposing the primal instincts underneath. The allegory in the novel encourages us to think about our own actions and choices, pushing us to aim for a better and more humane world.