William Golding's novel, "Lord of the Flies," examines the tragic nature of civilization by taking young sophisticated boys and relocating them to a deserted island where they must learn how to survive on their own. At the beginning of the novel, the boys figure out how to create fire, but did they truly learn how to use it in a responsible manner? Images of fire transpire throughout the novel and symbolize the change from civilization to savagery. Over the course of the novel, William Golding conveys the duel nature of fire through opposing images and symbolism to represent the boy's leadership skills. .
Golding uses the symbol of fire to stress Ralph's growing sense of leadership. When Ralph gathers the boys for an assembly to talk about how to get off the island, he says, "We can help them find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire"" (Golding 38). In this situation, fire is their last resort of getting off the island. Golding conveys fire as logic and intelligence in this situation, demonstrating Ralph's intellectual abilities as a leader. Ralph understands that fire can be used for survival as well as to create order. When Ralph calls the assembly together to discuss the lack of effort being put forth to get off the island, he says " The fire is the most important thing on the island. How can we ever be rescued except by luck, if we don't keep a fire going? Is a fire to much for us to ask. I ought to die before we let the fire out"" (Golding 80-81). This quote shows the effort Ralph has made in keeping order on the island. The use of the phrase "[I] ought to die before we let the fire out " symbolizes Ralph's intention to make sure the boys on the island do not go chaotic. He would rather risk his own life to make sure the boys do not turn savage. If the fire were to go out, the leadership skills and civil order on the island would all be lost.