Chapters 10-12: The Symbol of Fire as Power

As the novel Lord of the Flies came to a close, as a reader, I found that it was almost overly predictable. Ralph, who was deemed the protagonist throughout the book, ended up being proven correct in his constant insistence on having a signal fire. As the boys battle over Piggy’s glasses in order to control the lone source of making fire, fire itself becomes a symbol that represents power. True to the character traits developed earlier in the book, Jack desires to use this power for personal gain and luxuries such as cooking food. On the other hand, Ralph is hoping to use this fire and power to attempt to be rescued. The tension that has built up between Jack and Ralph creates a war of sorts between the two. Nearing the end of the book, Jack has taken almost everything from Ralph: his leadership, and his friends. Ralph’s last advantage over Jack is that he holds fire, a key tool for survival and rescue. As Jack is completely obsessed with overcoming Ralph, he goes after this fire and it becomes seen as a symbol of power. Jack builds himself up as a god and becomes so hungry for power that feels the need to possess everything that he does not have and take away everything from anyone else. Ralph is the lone person to stand up to him and is content with even using his power (fire) in a civilized fashion: to attempt being rescued. An eventual power struggle leads to fire spreading throughout the island and setting all the vegetation on fire. The struggle for power consumed both Jack and Ralph and proved to be too strong of a force to be contained. This fire brought them to a point where it seemed that their demise was inevitable. However, it ended up bringing them rescue. It can be suggested through this that only when power is used for something pure and for the greater good will positive results ensue.

Chapters 7-9: Key Quote

Chapters 7-9 in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies are crucial in that they introduce a key quote in story. In fact, this quote and idea is so significant and such a central theme that the entire book was named after it. The quote “They were black and iridescent green and without number; and in front of Simon, the Lord of the Flies hung on his stick and grinned” (Golding 152) is the first point in the novel that introduces the idea of a physical manifestation of the “Lord of the Flies” (152) as a symbol.

The “Lord of the Flies” (Golding 152) refers to the head of a pig on a stick that is surrounded by a swarm of flies feasting on it. This symbol and thus quote are so important that I believe Simon’s encounter with the “Lord of the Flies” (157) is the most integral part of the story so far. The “Lord of the Flies” (157) refers to itself as “the Beast” (158) and it can be inferred from this that the “Lord of the Flies” (158) is actually a symbol for the evil and barbaric instincts that lie within all humans. The “Beast” (158) also suggests that “I’m part of you” (158) which further shows that this evil and despicable “Lord” (158) is an evil instinct or force rearing its head and confronting Simon.

Furthermore, when the beast tells Simon that “You know perfectly well you’ll only meet me down there” (Golding 158) it can be inferred that this “Lord of the Flies” (152) is actually the devil himself and that in fact, this scene is an allusion to a biblical idea. The “Beast” (158) is the devil confronting and tempting Simon (who could be representative of Jesus) just as in the New Testament of The Bible. Jesus was tempted by Satan when he spent forty days in the wilderness fasting and in prayer just as the pig is tempting and mocking Simon and calling him “a silly little boy” (157) and threatening him to not “try to escape” (158) from the evil within him “or else-“ (158). This quote is an integral part of the story and provides further insight into one of the main themes of the novel: the evil that lies within us all.

Chapters 4-6: The Development of Ralph's Character

Within chapters 4-6 of Lord of the Flies, the plot development slows down in order to make room for a lot of character development. The children find themselves having to struggle with living on an island and dealing with such issues as who can exert authority, survival, and the emphasis put on attempting to be rescued. Within these conflicts between characters, Ralph emerges as a leader more than ever and his character is developed to a point where he begins to see himself as a leader and begins to take initiative.

Right at the inception of chapter 4, a physical description of Ralph’s size and a description of him as a “bigun” (Golding 61) illustrates an image of superiority over the other boys. When a ship passes on the horizon, Ralph is portrayed as a strong leader and displays a great deal of determination toward setting the fire. Although he fails, he takes it upon himself to make sure that no one ever “let[s] the fire out” (73). While Jack is more worried the present situation and survival on the island, Ralph displays a maturity in working towards a better life for himself and all the others. As such, Ralph is more concerned with being rescued and keeping the fire burning in order to do this. In a way, this displays Ralph’s kindness and sense of responsibility as he works toward more long term solutions and sees his moderation of the boys on the island as only a short term duty. Ralph feels a need to keep a civilized and organized society of sorts and tries to keep this “understandable and lawful world” (98) from “slipping away” (98). Even when all seems hopeless and everything is in disarray and full of conflict, Ralph feels a strong need to hold on to his beliefs and ideas of how the world should work. A lot is revealed about his character when he yells at Jack passionately saying “the rules are the only thing we’ve got!” (99). Ralph is smart and knows that there is more to surviving, but there is thriving. As such, he employs ideas such as rules to appease conflict and create a functioning and civil sense of humanity.

Chapters 1-3: The Impact of the Setting

Throughout the first three chapters, a strong emphasis is placed on setting by the author. In these descriptions and the way the boys react to the setting, two conflicting moods emerge. A sense of hopelessness and isolation as well as a conflicting mood of happiness and pleasure both emerge.

Once the characters have landed on the island, the setting establishes a fear in them and a hopelessness that they will ever escape. Their entrapment is portrayed through the use of setting. When Piggy says that he “can’t hardly move with all these creeper things” (Golding 1) a fear and entrapment is brought about by the setting. The isolation and unfamiliarity of the island is also a catalyst for hopelessness. Piggy’s pessimism displays this as he suggests that “they’re all dead” (9) and that “nobody don’t know we’re here” (9). The immediate searching of the island brings about the shattering of their hope that it “isn’t an island” (20). Once their hunger is realized they resign to the need to “hunt” (27) and “catch things” (27) as it seems that rescue is not imminent.

Although a resignation has been made to the idea that they may not be rescued, a mood of happiness and enjoyment is established through this isolation. The island can be seen as an oasis of sorts from the troubles going on in the world. When Piggy reminds Ralph that the pilot said something about “the atom bomb” (Golding 9) it is evident that chaos and destruction is happening outside of the confines of their island. In this way it is seen as a positive setting by the boys. Along with the realization that there were no older people on the island, the characters get the sense that they can abandon responsibility. “They’re off bathing, or eating, or playing” (51) because of this and are enjoying the freedom the island is providing them with.

Eventually, one of these moods created through the setting will have to overpower the other, and it will be interesting to see which one it will be and how it will impact the characters in the story.