Religious Figures In Lord Of The Flies

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In the modern classic Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the author tends to extend the reader's learning by symbolizing religious figures. Golding illustrates this through the actions of the main characters. Lord of the Flies concerns a group of young boys who are sent away on an airplane to escape the horrors of war during the 1950s in England. However, their plane is shot down and crash-lands on a tropical island, one bearing fruit trees and pigs. Ralph and the other boys are grounded on the island and attempt to create order while fighting for their own survival. Firstly, the independent and innocent Simon symbolizes a Christ-like figure, demonstrating his relation to Jesus Christ. Secondly, the island’s elected Chief, Ralph, resembles…show more content…
Firstly, Simon is spiritual, non-violent, independent and shares a love for nature like Jesus. Simon is often made fun of for what he believes in. “Simon grabbed the conch convulsively. ‘I wanted--to go to a place--a place I know.’ ‘What place?’ ‘Just a place I know. A place in the jungle.’" (Golding 92). Simon was occasionally made fun of for what he believes in. He was often called batty by Ralph. This is similar to Jesus, who was teased for speaking to the Kingdom of God. Later, Simon discovers that the ‘beast’ that terrifies the rest of the boys is just a dead parachutist, like Jesus who understood problems and wanted to fix them. Jesus and Simon are both sacrificed despite knowing helpful information. Simon symbolizes spirituality because he knows the answer to his group's problem but no one will listen to him, since Simon cannot deliver the news efficiently; he is killed because he is mistaken for the beast. Simon does not only symbolize spirituality through dying, but also by helping build shelters and giving Piggy meat when the others do not. “Simon, sitting between the twins and Piggy, wiped his mouth and shoved his piece of meat over the rocks to Piggy, who grabbed it” (78). In conclusion, Simon from Lord of the Flies is similar to Jesus Christ and symbolizes…show more content…
Jack is similar to Satan because he tricks people into doing wrong things and making promises. For example, Jack tells the boys that they will have fun if they join his tribe. “Listen all of you. Me and my hunters, we’re living along the beach by a flat rock. We hunt and feast and have fun. If you want to join my tribe come and see us” (154). As soon as the boys join the tribe, Jack becomes bloodthirsty; all he can think about is killing, just like Satan. Jack begins to accomplish evil tasks such as giving 'the beast' a pig’s head and killing two members of Ralph’s tribe. Jack brings sadness into the island, and leaves Piggy blinded before killing him. Most people follow Jack because it is easier to sin and have a straight path to hell, compared to facing multiple obstacles to get to heaven (as can be seen in Ralph’s group). Jack symbolizes savagery and the evil in a man. He loses his ability to remain calm while he is stranded on the island. He becomes very evil as he leaves Ralph's group and disobeys the conch, lets out the fire, and becomes bloodthirsty. “The hunters’ thoughts were crowded with memories… they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away it's like a long satisfying drink” (63). Jack kills Simon, thinking he is the beast and refuses to return Piggy’s glasses. In conclusion, the hurtful and powerful Jack Merridew
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