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A Symbol In Lord Of The Flies

Essay, Research Paper


The symbol of fire is used throughout the entire book, Lord of the Flies. Although it is


mentioned only briefly throughout, the significance of these occurrences has a strong


effect on the characters, book, and the reader. The author, William Golding, uses the


fire to show the status of the people on the island. The fire is first mentioned in chapter


three when Ralph decides that it is needed if they wish to ever be rescued. It is again


reintroduced in chapter eight when Piggy suggests that it should be moved to the beach


on which they are inhabiting. Fire is later mentioned in chapters ten and eleven as the


central conflict in the book at that time. This symbol is finally mentioned in chapter


twelve as it engulfs the entire island. Golding uses fire as a symbol to represent hope and


commonsense. He also uses the fire as a symbol from their absence from inevitable


savagery.


Fire is first introduced by Ralph as a means to communicate with the outside


world saying they need help and need to be rescued. He says ?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.? He and Jack soon come to the realization that they have nothing to light the


fire with; instantly they notice that they can use Piggy?s glasses. Piggy soon becomes


angry and is critical of how they use and maintain it. After Jack has agreed to keeping


the fire lit along with his choir boys, he ascends to the mountain. One day while a ship


is seen floating by the fire is not lit. Ralph becomes very mad at Jack even though he has


caught a pig for food. The fire is a gift form Piggy to the inhabitants of the island. It


represents the hope of being rescued.


Later in chapter 8, after Jack has seceded from Ralph?s tribe, Piggy suggests that


the fire should be moved to the beach. While the fire is being built many

of Ralph?s


followers leave to Jack?s tribe. They build the fire by the bathing pool and light it when


they are done. This shows Piggy?s commonsense because their was no point in having to


go so far to keep the fire lit. It also helps to keep Ralph?s mind on something other than


the bad things that have come of Jack and secession. The Ralph represents the bathing


pool because he is always trying to stay clean and the bathing pool is where people go to


stay clean. The Piggy represents the fire because it was his gift to the island. Putting the


fire next to the bathing pool represents the close bond between Ralph and Piggy.


Again in chapter 10 fire is mentioned as the major conflict between Ralph and


Jack. With their tribe depleted, Ralph?s followers start to lack interest in the fire and the


hope of being rescued. One night while Ralph?s tribe is asleep Jack?s tribe comes over


and steals Piggy?s glasses and the power to make fire. Ralph and Piggy go to Jack and


say that they would have gladly shared the fire with him, all he had to do was ask. By


stealing the power to make fire Ralph has lost the power to make logical decisions and


the power to lead. When Piggy says that he will share the fire he truly believes that this


fact will bring the two tribes together and stop the warfare. This is proven false when


Jack refuses to cooperate.


The symbol of fire in this book shows the relationship of Ralph and Jack by the


placement of the fire. It also represented the hope of being rescued and as soon as Jack


gained possession of it, all hope was lost for Ralph and his tribe. The fire represented


commonsense to Ralph all throughout the book and when he lost it he lost the ability to


make logical decisions which would have saved his life. This proves the point that the


fire represents the status of the people on the island


Bibliography


Lord of the Flies

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