Defintion
symbolism (noun)
[sim-buh-liz-uh m]
[sim-buh-liz-uh m]
- the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with as a symbolic meaning or character.
- the use of any of certain special figures or marks of identification to signify a religious message or divine being, as the cross for Christ and the Christian faith.
General Examples:
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People
Lord of the Flies is packed with biblical symbolism. Simon can be seen as a Christ-like figure because of his calm, quiet nature, he takes time to rest in the natural bower, and we later see that he tried to deliver a truth to the boys that they didn’t accept. Simon realized the truth about the “beastie” on the island. He discovered that it was really just a dead pilot with a parachute, but when he went to tell the other boys what he had found, he stumbled into their dance circle and was beat and killed. This resembles the crucifixion of Jesus; Christ came to deliver a truth to the world but most people didn’t accept it and killed him.
Piggy represents the boys’ intelligence. He is the one who gives Ralph a lot of his good ideas and he is often the only one who is thinking sensibly and with common sense. An example of this is when the boys are trying to figure out how they can get rid of the beast so that they can start the fire on the mountain again, but Piggy suggests that they just move the fire onto the beach.
When Piggy is killed, it symbolizes all the intelligence and common sense leaving the island with him. The boys, excluding Ralph and some little ones, have become savages and there’s no sense left in them to change that.
Lord of the Flies is packed with biblical symbolism. Simon can be seen as a Christ-like figure because of his calm, quiet nature, he takes time to rest in the natural bower, and we later see that he tried to deliver a truth to the boys that they didn’t accept. Simon realized the truth about the “beastie” on the island. He discovered that it was really just a dead pilot with a parachute, but when he went to tell the other boys what he had found, he stumbled into their dance circle and was beat and killed. This resembles the crucifixion of Jesus; Christ came to deliver a truth to the world but most people didn’t accept it and killed him.
Piggy represents the boys’ intelligence. He is the one who gives Ralph a lot of his good ideas and he is often the only one who is thinking sensibly and with common sense. An example of this is when the boys are trying to figure out how they can get rid of the beast so that they can start the fire on the mountain again, but Piggy suggests that they just move the fire onto the beach.
When Piggy is killed, it symbolizes all the intelligence and common sense leaving the island with him. The boys, excluding Ralph and some little ones, have become savages and there’s no sense left in them to change that.
![Picture](/uploads/5/2/1/3/52135571/1449508226.png)
Objects
From the very beginning, the conch symbolized law and order; it was what brought the boys together in the first place. When Ralph first blew the conch all the boys gathered together instinctively. Throughout the book, as the boys became more and more savage, the conch began to get more and more faded and worn out. This represented the boys losing their order and their civilization. Finally, at the end of the book, when the conch is shattered, it symbolizes that all traces of the civilization of proper, English boys have disappeared and the boys are now merciless savages.
Piggy’s glasses represented the logical way he saw things on the island, unlike the other boys who mostly acted without thinking.
From the very beginning, the conch symbolized law and order; it was what brought the boys together in the first place. When Ralph first blew the conch all the boys gathered together instinctively. Throughout the book, as the boys became more and more savage, the conch began to get more and more faded and worn out. This represented the boys losing their order and their civilization. Finally, at the end of the book, when the conch is shattered, it symbolizes that all traces of the civilization of proper, English boys have disappeared and the boys are now merciless savages.
Piggy’s glasses represented the logical way he saw things on the island, unlike the other boys who mostly acted without thinking.
![Picture](/uploads/5/2/1/3/52135571/8157405.png?136)
The Lord of the Flies, also known as the pig’s head that had been mounted on the stick, symbolized the devil. Before Simon is killed, he is in a kind of trace and he has a conversation with the Lord of the Flies. The pig’s head tries to convince him to not deliver the truth he needs to tell the other boys. This is similar to when Jesus was being tempted by Satan and right before his death when he prayed that God would take it away from him.
The paint that the savages put on symbolizes a 'mask' that they can put on so that in a sense it can make them feel not as bad or guilty about what they are doing. It makes them think that they can cover up their flaws and have more self confidence.
The paint that the savages put on symbolizes a 'mask' that they can put on so that in a sense it can make them feel not as bad or guilty about what they are doing. It makes them think that they can cover up their flaws and have more self confidence.
Golding's Point of View
The large amount of symbolism in The Lord of the Flies tells us about how William Golding may view the world. Because most of the symbolism is biblical, we are able to see that he is a Christian and he relates his relationship with Christ to every aspect of his life. He doesn't just go to church, he lives out his faith. Also, he tries to see how God is working in the world around us.
The conch symbolized law, order, and civilization. When it began to fade and the when it was broken, it represented that the boys had become complete savages and there was no longer any order in their world. After this event, all the boys went on a wild chase to try to kill Ralph and the whole story just became crazy. This tells us that Golding values law and order in the world.
The large amount of symbolism in The Lord of the Flies tells us about how William Golding may view the world. Because most of the symbolism is biblical, we are able to see that he is a Christian and he relates his relationship with Christ to every aspect of his life. He doesn't just go to church, he lives out his faith. Also, he tries to see how God is working in the world around us.
The conch symbolized law, order, and civilization. When it began to fade and the when it was broken, it represented that the boys had become complete savages and there was no longer any order in their world. After this event, all the boys went on a wild chase to try to kill Ralph and the whole story just became crazy. This tells us that Golding values law and order in the world.