चाराच्तेर्स इन थे लोर्ड ऑफ़ थे FLIES

Allegorical relationships

The relationships displayed in the novel have not yet been fully examined. However, there are a few clues that can be drawn from the novel.

Ralph

When he and the others arrive on the island, he quickly establishes himself as the chief of the group, although not by any harsh, overt or physical action, but by being elected. Ralph has many leadership skills that Piggy does not and he knows when to and when not to talk (which separates him from Piggy again). Ralph suggests that a fire be lit, hoping that it will increase their chance of being saved; he is also the one who thinks up the idea of the huts on the beach and the meeting place. Ralph also progresses with order and rationality when the dead paratrooper is found on the mountain and causes the younger boys to panic. In addition to all this, it should be noted that Ralph has a tendency to be polite and logical in the tensest of moments; for example, when the children are obliged to investigate Castle Rock, Ralph takes the lead despite being horribly afraid of the “beast”. When Simon expresses his doubts about the existence of such a creature, Ralph responds “politely, as if agreeing about the weather.” Ralph embodies logic, order and civilisation.^[6]

Piggy

Piggy, whose real name is never revealed, is Ralph’s chief adviser and “true, wise friend.” He represents the role of intelligence, reason and civilization. His identity with civilization is symbolized in many ways, including the fact that his hair never lengthens even as the others’ does, and his refusal to accept the existence of ghosts or the beast. Even at the beginning, the limited influence of civilization is symbolized by the limitations of Piggy’s own body: his obesity, his often debilitating asthma, and his thick spectacles. His deteriorating sway is further represented as his glasses are first broken, then later stolen by Jack, leaving him all but completely helpless. He makes a final appeal for order and reason, and is horribly killed for his efforts. With his gruesome death, simultaneous with the destruction of the conch, reason and civility are gone completely, and the descent into savagery is consummate.^[4]

The Conch

When first blown, it convokes the children to an assembly, where Ralph is elected leader. They also agree that only the boy holding the conch may speak at meetings to forestall arguments and chaos, and that it should be passed around to those who wish to voice their opinion. The conch symbolises democracy and, like Ralph, civility and order within the group. It is, however, eventually smashed into thousands of pieces by the same rock which has killed Piggy. Therefore, the conch’s destruction can be perceived as the death of order on the island.^[4]

Jack

Jack epitomizes the worst aspects of human nature when not controlled or tempered by society. Like Ralph, Jack is a natural leader. However, unlike Ralph, Jack appeals to more basic desires in the children and relies on his status as leader of the choirboys (presumably ordained by the adults). Although his way of behaving is neither disruptive nor violent at the beginning of the book, he does at that time express an ungovernable desire to hunt and kill a pig. As the story progresses, this desire grows more and more irrational, to the point where he abandons the fire (and causes the boys to miss a potential rescue) simply in order to hunt. This sparks tension between Jack and Ralph which leads to a clear dividing line between the two appearing, on one hand Jack is the irrational one, whereas, on the other Ralph represents rational. Eventually, in the later part of the book when Ralph’s leadership is more undermined, Jack’s true evil nature is exposed. He leads most of the boys away from Ralph, and forms a separate group, based not on democracy but obedience and where violence and torture are carried out. The tale ends with Jack leading many of the boys in a frenzied attempt to kill Ralph, which is only prevented by the abrupt and unexpected arrival of a naval officer.^[6]

Simon

Simon is a character who represents peace and tranquillity, with some references to Jesus Christ. He is very in-tune with the island, and often experiences extraordinary sensations when listening to its sounds. He also has an extreme aversion to the pig’s head, the “Lord of the Flies”, which derides and taunts Simon in a hallucination. After this experience, Simon emerges from the forest only to be brutally killed by Jack’s people, who mistake him for the beast. The final words that the Lord of the Flies had said to Simon vaguely predicted that his death was about to occur in this manner.^[6]

Naval Officer

Arriving moments before Ralph's seemingly impending death, the Naval Officer acts as a form of deus ex machina. The Officer is surprised and disappointed to learn that the boy's society has collapsed into chaos, stating that he would have expected "a better show" from the British children.

The arrival of the officer triggers an interesting phenomenon; Ralph's, and to a larger extent, Jack's authority is completely dissolved by the officer's arrival. Upon the officer asking who is "in charge", the struggle of the book is rendered instantly obsolete: "Who's boss here?" "I am." said Ralph loudly". Jack, who was previously characterized as a powerful leader is reduced to: "A little boy who wore the remains of an extraordinary black cap on his red hair and who carried the remains of a pair of spectacles at his waist", somewhat abruptly demonstrating the illusion of authority and control.

The Lord of the Flies

Namesake of the novel, the Lord of the Flies is literally a pig's head that has been cut off by Jack, put on a stick sharpened at both ends, stuck in the ground, and offered to the "beast". Created out of fear, the Lord of the Flies used to be a mother sow who, though at one time clean, loving, and innocent, has now become a manically smiling, bleeding image of evil. This transformation clearly represents the transformation that Jack and the boys have undergone during their time in the island. In addition, the name 'Lord of the Flies' is the literal English translation of Beelzebub, a demonic figure that is often considered Satan's right hand man.

The Lord of the Flies is a physical manifestation of the evil that is in the boys, and the evil that Golding believed existed in all of us