The novel Lord of the Flies by the English writer William Golding is written in the genre of allegory and contains many symbols. In the center of the plot, a group of boys found themselves on an inhabited island. Gradually, leaders, attempts at control and manifestations of cruelty appear among them. Goldin uses symbols such as the beast, the pig’s head, and Jack’s mask to support the overall theme of inner evil that is inherent in all people.
The first significant symbol that supports the main theme of the book is the beast. While on the island, the boys fear the beast, which later turns out to be the dead pilot. Towards the end of the book, Jack’s tribe, Ralph, and Piggy are dancing “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!” (Golding 118). The boys end up killing Simon in a fit of rage, mistaking him for a beast. Thus, the beast symbolizes the evil that is inside people and is constantly looking for a target.
Another symbol is the head of a pig on a stick, which is also the Lord of the Flies. The boys killed the mother pig and Jack said “This head is for the beast. It’s a gift” (Golding 106). The head of a pig symbolizes the evil inside people, for the sake of which they are ready to go to cruelty. The boys killed a living being for a mythical beast they had never seen.
Finally, the third symbol is the mask that Jack made for himself. Golding notes that “the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self consciousness” (48). People try to commit cruel acts not on their own behalf, but in the name of higher purposes. This helps them to give vent to the inner evil that is held back by their conscience and society.
Thus, Golding uses several symbols to illustrate his point on the nature of evil in all the people. Namely, he uses the beast to show that people always can find something considered evil for themselves. Pig’s head symbolizes their desire to contribute to evil and cruelty. Finally, the mask is used as a symbol of the desire of people to step back from responsibility for their cruel deeds.
Work Cited
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Faber and Faber, 1954. Web.