Piggy's Specs: a Symbol of Vision and Civilization in "Lord of The Flies"

Introduction

William Golding's Lord of the Flies is a gripping tale that digs deep into our minds and the wild nature hiding under our civilized ways. One symbol that really stands out in the story is Piggy's glasses, or "specs." These aren't just for helping Piggy see better; they're about smarts, how fragile civilization can be, and how things slowly fall apart. Let's break down what Piggy's specs really mean and how they show key themes in the book.

'Piggy's Specs: A Symbol of Vision and Civilization in "Lord of The Flies"'

The Power of Insight

Piggy's specs are all about seeing things clearly, both in his head and out in the world. Sure, Piggy isn't the strongest or most charming kid around, but he's got brains and thinks like a scientist. Those glasses help him see straight—literally and figuratively. When they first crash on the island, it's Piggy's specs that start the signal fire. This fire is more than just flames; it’s a sign of hope and shows how human brains can control nature. So, these specs are a link to their old lives back home where smart thinking kept everything together.

Civilization's Fragility

As we go further into the story, you see how weak civilization really is by looking at what happens to Piggy's glasses. They get banged up pretty bad, which mirrors how the boys lose touch with being civilized. The first time they break—when Jack hits Piggy—marks a big moment when their structured little society starts cracking. This hints at how things will totally fall apart later on. And with each crack in those specs, it's like the boys' moral compass gets fuzzier too.

Anarchy Takes Over

The moment Jack steals Piggy's glasses is when anarchy officially wins out over any kind of order they had left. By swiping them, Jack snags the power to make fire too—which means he’s grabbed control from smarts and morals using brute force instead. Without his specs, Piggy’s almost useless—and that shows just how vulnerable brains are against pure instinctual chaos. Destroying those glasses wipes out any last bit of civilized behavior among them.

Power Struggles

Throughout everything happening on this island adventure gone wrong, who holds Piggy’s specs ties directly into who has power. At first it was for everyone’s good—but once society splits up? It becomes all about who gets control next time they need fire or food cooked up right! Jack taking them shows us how power shifts from teamwork towards individual rule where control isn’t shared anymore but used for personal gain instead.

Conclusion

Lord of the Flies uses Piggy’s specs as a strong reminder of both sides within humans—the clear thinking side versus raw animal instincts underneath it all waiting around corners ready to pounce if given half chance! As those poor lenses get destroyed piece by piece until finally disappearing altogether…we watch kids themselves slide further down chaotic paths without guidance systems holding fast anymore.

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• Dicken-Fuller N., (2019). 'Symbolism in Lord of the Flies', Literature Analysis Journal.
• Smith L.C., (1997). 'The Glasses In Lord Of The Flies', Journal Of Literary Symbols & Themes.