The story seems to be a political allegory when examining the main characters. According to literary critic Diane Andrews Henningfeld, “Ralph , for example, stands for the good hearted but not entirely effective leader of a democratic state, a ruler who wants to rule by law derived from the common consent” (188). Ralph feels he needs to establish rules in order to ensure order and stability. The only way for this to be sustained is if these rules are not broken. This idea of rules being made supports a democratic society. Being the oldest boy, Ralph was chosen to be chief and he continues to tell the others what they need to do in order to survive. However most boys disagree and think of Ralph as demanding, bossy, and an ineffective leader.

The fire was symbolic in many ways. It was used to make a smoke signal to get the attention of any ships passing by. The fire also symbolized the boys being rescued and going back home to their normal lives. Piggy’s glasses were used in order to start the fire which upset him because he felt that he was being taken advantage of. “His specs-use them as burning glasses! Piggy was surrounded before he could back away. Here-let me go! His voice rose to a shriek of terror as Jack snatched the glasses of his face” (LOF 40). Jack at first cared about being rescued, but once he formed his own group he and his hunters did not care about the fire and smoke signal at all. Since Jack and his tribe did care about the fire they decided to raid Ralph’s camp and steal Piggy’s glasses preventing Ralph and his group from being able to make the fire and be rescued. “They’ve got our fire. Rage filled his voice. They stole it! That’s them said Piggy” (LOF 169). Ralph expresses his anger about the fire being stolen saying that

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Jack did not feel as if the rules applied to him but rather he wanted to hunt and be a savage not caring as much about the fire or being rescued. It was the followers of Jack who gave him power and let him stay as the dictator on the island. Diane Andrews Henningfeld said, “Jack represents a totalitarian dictator, a ruler who appeals to the emotional responses of his followers” (188). He and his tribe go out several times to hunt pigs and be savages, not realizing what is important to survive. In Jack’s eyes he just wants to rule everyone and have them do things his way. According to literary critic Paul Slayton, “Jack, the antagonist, is developed as the forceful villain. Outgoing, cocky, and confident, Jack marches his choir boys in military formation up the beach to answer the call of the conch” (191). He feels more powerful then anyone else and has put his mind to being a hunter and a savage ruling by charisma and hysteria on an island full of choir boys.

William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is indeed seen as a political allegory with characters representing world leaders during World War II. It

Some topics in this essay:
Andrews Henningfeld, Paul Slayton, Ralph Piggy, Lord Flies, Ralph Henningfeld, Ralph Jack, Soviet Union”, Carl Niemeyer, War II, Piggy” LOF, lord flies, political allegory, diane andrews henningfeld, diane andrews, andrews henningfeld, war ii, smoke signal, world war, conch fire, leadership democracy, symbolic meaning, world war ii, struck piggy glancing, piggy glancing blow, objects representing ideas,