Lord of the Flies - Who Are They Really?

Who Are They Really?

English 12

Nov. 5/10
                                                                                  Victoria Lord of the flies can be considered a fable where the characters are symbols for ideas. Each character, Ralf, Simon, Piggy, Jack and Roger show qualities and traits that humans may symbolize. Ralf being order. Simon being goodness. Piggy being intelligence. Jack being savagery. And at last Roger, being extreme beyond hyperbole.
Ralf is the order in society. He tries to bring together the groups to build huts and create a signal fire. He tires to be the leader of the group but struggles for power with Jack. Ralf tries to be a democratic leader, “ ‘Shut up,’ said Ralph absently. He lifted the conch. ‘Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things.’” (ch2 page 18) Even though he gets elected as leader he still can not compete with Jack who has the unbridled savagery and desire for power that pushes him to drive to be a   totalitarian governor. Meanwhile Ralf is a democratic, he likes everyone to have an opinion and uses votes to make decisions.
Simon is the natural human goodness. While everyone is afraid of the ‘beast’ Simon realizes that the beast is nothing more than themselves. “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast. . . . Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! . . . You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?” (Ch 8 Page 158) Simon tries to confront the group but his thoughts are brought down for being crazy. “What I mean is . . . maybe it’s only us.” (Ch 5 Page 96)
Roger is the extremist of the group. At first he wasn’t so brutal, but as his innocence’s faded away as he became a bloodlust. “Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards In diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo...