The characters in this novel are a group of English schoolboys who are stranded on a tropical utopia. Ralph, who is chosen as the chief, attempts to create a sense of order on the island by establishing rules and regulations. Piggy aids Ralph by being the voice of reason and knowledge. However a split between the boys leads to Jack taking control and creating an immoral and reckless tribe. Towards the end of the book the boys break from the safety of their orderly existence that is based on the hope that they will be rescued. The boys’ regress from a civilized society to savagery, which is symbolized in the novel by Piggy’s glasses, the fire and the importance of the conch shell.

First, the glasses, worn by Piggy represent intelligence and technology. The boys use “his specs-…as burning glasses” (Golding 41). They use their intuitivenes

Ralph makes a final plea to the boys, mainly Jack, in a fit of fury. He says “‘don’t you understand? You painted fools? Sam, Eric, Piggy and me-we aren’t enough. We tried to keep the fire going, but we couldn’t, and then you, playing at hunting…’”(Golding 197). Ralph’s rescue fire task is slowly dying and Jack’s hunters could not be bothered with the thought of being rescued. All they want to do is have hunt and have fun. The importance of the fire changes a great deal in the novel. The boys appear to go from wanting to be rescued too not even caring at all.

Finally, the use of the conch is of great importance in the novel. It establishes rules and gives whomever posses it power and authority. At an assembly Ralph said “’we’ll have to have “hands up” like at school…then I’ll give them the conch…’” (Golding 31). The boys who chose Ralph as the leader are quite happy to follow the rules of the conch as they respect the authority that has become associated with the shell.

Unfortunately, when the boys moved to Jack’s tribe, the conch began losing the authority it once had. In a conversation with Piggy over Ralph’s rank as chief, Ralph said, “If I blow the conch, and they don’t come back; then we’ve had it. We shan’t keep the fire going. We’ll be like animals. We’ll never be rescued.” (Golding 99). The boys slowly shifted towards Jack’s tribe and disregard the only element of orde

Some topics in this essay:
Furthermore Jack, William Golding, Eric Piggy, Piggy Ralph’s, Moreover Piggy’s, Jack Piggy, Lord Flies, piggy’s glasses, keeping fire, symbols represent aspects, keeping fire ralph, symbol rules, symbols represent, jack tribe, represent aspects, rules conch, using symbols, beginning novel, jack’s tribe,