GOVERNMENT
One of the most dominant allegories in the novel is government. Golding early on establishes
Ralph as chief. Within a few chapters Jack is already jockeying for power. Later on in the book
there is an underlying hint that Roger is increasingly desirous of power too. With this, Golding
establishes that leadership is a very tenuous string that is easily cut by those that wish to usurp its
strength. The conch is a symbol of government on the island. It provides initial order and control.
The boy that has the conch has the right to speak. As the novel progresses, the boys increasingly
abandon the conch which was a symbol of order and control. With the later destruction of the
conch, it is symbolic that government, order and control have been abandoned on the island.
Through this allegory Golding conveys the fragility of government.
INTELLECT
Another important allegory in the novel is intellect. Piggy, with his glasses, embodies the
importance of intellect in the world. Piggy is able to see the problems as see the truth from early
on. He realizes the boys are acting rashly with the early lighting of the fire. He sees the growing
unhappiness of Jack and views him as a threat. He understands that gathering names and shelter
are important to their fledgling society. On the other hand, Piggy's intellect is not valued by the
boys.
Intellect does not always come in a pretty package that sells well. Piggy was not a pretty package
nor an articulate messenger. He was insecure, but correct in his judgments. Ralph immediately
disregarded Piggy due to his outward appearance. By the end of the book Ralph can see the value
of intellect. He sees through the pretty packaging of Jack and understands that truth is not always
pretty.
With this allegory, Golding establishes how society regards intellect. It is something that is
disregarded as unimportant. Power trumps intellect in the society of mankind just as it does in
Lord of the Flies.
POWER
Power is another level of allegory in Lord of the Flies. At the beginning of the novel, power lay
in government, order and control. Increasingly power comes to lie in the ability to hunt and
gather food. Jack grows in power because he has the ability to gather food for the group. The lure
of food is much like a baby. A baby does care who is holding the bottle, if it is hungry it will
suck. The boys represent citizens of the world. They are depicted as simply going along with the
events of the world just as the boys go along with Jack just because he supplies the food. They
throw their lot in with the one that they feel will benefit them the most.
As Ralph's power degenerates and Jack's power accelerates, the abuse of power becomes an
increasing temptation. This level of allegory depicts that whoever is in power as letting it go to
his head. Just as Ralph's power is usurped, there is a growing sense of power in Roger. Roger
represents and even more extreme abuse of power: brutality and bloodlust. With the killing a
Piggy and the hunting of Ralph, brutality and blood lust have trumped order and intellect.
RELIGION
On a different level The Lord of the Flies represents a religious allegory. Simon is often analyzed
as Jesus figure in the novel. He represents goodness and truth, but when he comes to tell the truth
to others he is symbolically crucified for it. With the destruction of the symbol of religion in the
novel it opens the door for all other forms of evil and brutality to dominate the characters.
Mankind is depicted as sinners in this level of allegory. Power trumps religion as well.
With these multiple layers of allegory, Golding depicts the world of mankind in an unflattering
light. There is good, order and intellect in the world, but they are triumphed over by evil,
brutality and bloodlust. Golding is trying to depict to his audience that the island in The Lord of
the Flies is just a microcosm of the real world.
Learn more about this author, Marijane Suttor.
RALPH
JACK
PIGGY
SIMON
Character
"Type"
Model boy
Ruthless leader
Thinker
Mystic
Central
Motivation
To be rescued
To hunt
To be rescued
To know the truth
"Feeds" ideas to
Ralph
Talks to Lord of
the Flies; solves
mystery of the
beast
Principal
Actions
Forms
Splits boys into two
democracy;
groups; hunts down
lights the signal Ralph
fire
Dreamer;
Hatred; a natural leader Serious;
Principal
thoughtful
Emotions and easygoing, but
very
Attributes
responsible
At the
beginning of
the novel
Happy; excited In charge of a boys'
by adventure
choir
Apprehensive;
frightened
At the end of Hunted like an The chief of a band of Murdered
animal
savages
the novel
Back to top
Visionary; brave
Fainting; choirboy
Murdered
Characters on allegorical level
In Lord of the Flies there can also be found 3 types of allegories. I listed the relationship between
the characters and what they represent on allegorical level.
Ralph
Jack
Piggy
Moral allegory Common sense.
Emotion
Social allegory (Democratic)
government
Power; dictator Technology
Humanism
Ruthless /
corruption
Spiritual truth
Religious
allegory
Every day person
Intellect
Simon
Intellect
Soul
Moral allegory
Ralph : Common sense. He has the potential to go the good way or the "evil " way.
Jack : Emotion, how he lives and dies.
Piggy : Intellect.
Simon : Soul.
Ralph could not balance emotion, intellect and soul ==> Jack (emotion (Jack displays this as
violence)) took control, while on a moral level we need all four aspects (Ralph, Jack, Piggy,
Simon) to achieve a society that can be successful.
Social allegory
Ralph : Fair government / democratic government. He tries to achieve unity.
Jack : Power / tyrant / dictator. He has the desire to get power / hunt . He puts his own needs
above the needs of other people.
Piggy : Technology. He never makes it past a nickname.
Simon : Humanism. Goes out in nature and figures out that the beast is within all of them.
On a social level Ralph again tries to balance the different powers (for the social allegory it is
power (Jack), technology (Piggy) and humanism (Simon). But government allows power to take
over and to warp technology and destroy humanism.
Religious allegory
Ralph : Everyday man who is searching for hope and salvation.
Jack : Corruption within society. He does not think beyond himself.
Piggy : Intellectual who does not understand the everyday man, corruption and spirituality
(Ralph, Jack and Simon respectively).
Simon : Spirituality / faith in humanity.
If we (Ralph / civilization) cannot balance emotion, intellect and spirituality one of these powers
will start to dominate and destroy the others. We need all of these powers to be successful but
not let one of them dominate.