Lord of the Flies
Elements of Voice Passage Analysis
In his novel, Lord of the Flies , William Golding uses the three elements of voice – diction, detail, and imagery – in order to portray the significance of a dominant character and symbol. He writes, “Ralph felt the conch lifted from his lap. Then Piggy was standing cradling the great cream shell and the shouting died down” (Golding 33). Golding’s use of the word cradling is significant to the characterization of Piggy. Piggy is the backbone of the failing society Ralph attempts to establish on the island – this society being represented by the “great cream shell,” or the conch Piggy found. Instead of simply holding or grasping the conch, he cradles it; such as a mother cradles a baby for protection. This motion emphasizes Piggy’s maternal gentleness as well as his reverence for the civilized structure that the conch symbolizes. By cradling the shell, Piggy shows the conch’s fragility, hence the fragility of Ralph’s society. In contrast, Piggy demonstrates the power of the conch by quieting the crowd with one tender gesture. Golding applies detail and imagery through his description of the symbol – the words great and cream representing its dominance and purity or morality. By exercising the particular diction in his description of Piggy’s gesture, Golding is able to express Piggy’s amiable nature and the might of the conch with few words.