The Character of Simon in William Golding's "Lord of The Flies"

The Mysterious Look of Simon

Ever wondered what Simon looks like in "Lord of the Flies"? William Golding doesn't lay it out straight, but if you dig into the text a bit, you can pick up clues about Simon's appearance and character. He's a main guy in the story—a quiet kid who's deep and gets how humans can be both good and evil. This essay's gonna dive into what Simon might look like and his spiritual and moral side, showing why he's such a big deal in the book.

What's Simon Like?

Golding doesn’t give us a full picture of Simon, but there are hints. He’s called “a skinny, vivid little boy” (Golding 55). So yeah, he’s small but has this energy that makes him stand out from the other boys on the island. It fits his character; physically weak maybe, but strong-minded and morally tough.

And then there's how he contrasts with the others. Simon is often linked to nature—think flowers and butterflies—which shows his gentle side. When he goes off alone on the island, Golding writes something like "the darkness seemed to flow around him" (92). It paints him as connected to some mystical part of the island, unlike the other kids who care more about power or just staying alive.

Simon’s Deeper Side

But let’s get real—what Simon looks like isn’t even half of it. His true self comes out in his spiritual and moral sides. From early on, he's shown as compassionate. Remember when Jack kills that pig? Simon faints because he can't handle the brutality. It's like a warning for what's coming: he understands evil better than anyone else there.

Simon often escapes to think alone in the jungle. One time he runs into this creepy thing called Lord of the Flies—a pig's head on a stick left for some beast. The head kind of talks to him, saying stuff like “I’m part of you?” (143). This moment is big because it shows Simon wrestling with evil inside himself and everyone else too.

Towards the end, after they kill Simon thinking he's a beast—it hits home how savage they’ve become. He knew all along that what they feared wasn't out there but inside them. His death is tragic; it marks savagery beating morality and says goodbye to hope for being civilized.

Why Is Simon Important?

Simon is different from all those boys going wild on the island. His weak body but deep spirit make him stand apart yet also be that voice of reason everyone needs. What he understands about human nature speaks to one of Golding's main points: we’re all stuck between civilization and savagery.

And hey, his character questions societal norms too! Without rules or authority, these boys show their true colors—and it's Simon who sees past their civilized mask first. The beast they're scared of? Not a monster at all but just them.

The Takeaway

You might find Simon’s looks in "Lord of the Flies" puzzling, but who he really is carries so much weight. Through small descriptions and his deeper qualities, we see someone who's kind-hearted yet aware of humanity's dark sides. He reminds us about balancing our civilized self with our wilder instincts—and sometimes confronting what lurks within us.

References

• Golding, W. (1954). Lord of the Flies. Penguin Books.
• Baker, J.R., & Ziegler Jr., F.T. (1996). The way things are: Essays on fiction in honor of Gifford Ward Cross III. University Press.
• Kermode, F. (1960). The Genesis of Secrecy: On the Interpretation of Narrative. Harvard University Press.
• Cox, C.B., & Dyson A.E., eds. (1963). The Twentieth Century Mind: History Ideas in Britain Vol II. Oxford University Press.
• Peterkin A., & Friedl V.W., eds.(1989) Boys Will Be Boys: Breaking Masculine Myths. Between The Lines.