English 9H — Lord of the Flies Analysis (symbolic objects, irony, characters)

The Island

Represents:
- Garden of Eden -> place where Adam + Eve existed
- Island described more ominously, reflecting the impact of the increasingly violent behavior of the boys #theboysruinedisland

The Lord of the Flies

- Innate human evil: each human has the potential for evil, stemming from our selfish desires (power, dominance, seelf-indulgence).

The Conch Shell

Democratic Order: conch shell mimics megaphone (used by adults in previous life not on the island).

- Allows all to have a voice until it is misused and eventually broken (when Piggy died).

- Jack misuses the conch, he says only powerful and strong should have a voice

Piggy's Glasses

Reason and Intellect: glasses used to create a fire, which is needed for rescue

hence reason and intellect are needed traits for human progress and a successful society. Their breaking mirrors the decline of reason in the island.

Rescue Fire

At first, the rescue fire meant hope. When it is neglected or out o control, it reflects our individualistic tendencies (ignore community needs) and it represents humanity's inability to be saved.

Island Fire

The island fire represents the destructiveness of violent tendencies and desires for power and control.

Pig

The object of the hunt represents man's blood lust.

The Scar

Represents the destructive nature of humans, as prior to they tribal, the island was an uncorrupted paradise. They name of the path of the downed plane (scare) foreshadows the violence that will eventually occur.

Jack

Jack's character arc highlights the boys descent into savagery and man's quest for power + firmament. He starts as the choir leader but becomes obsessed with hunting. Over the course of the novel, his desire for power leads to a rift with Ralph. He uses immediate rewards (the meats) and fear (that Beast/beatings) to gain followers and control the group. Castle Rock is his domain, highlighting his confront nature. He moves from among a pig to hunting other birds, namely targeting Piggy for abuse and eventually hunting Ralph.

Ralph

The democratic leader: Elected leader Ralph innovates the ideals of the denunciation society which shows up in his repeated attempts to convince the boys to prioritize the rescue fire. He is the only one to respect Piggy, even if it took some time. Feverish turned throughout the story, slid finds kindled struggling to think this illustrates his fighter for futures, something that leads most do.

Simon

- Curious, "different"
- Jesus-like/Christ-like - spiritual

Piggy

- Wise
- Knowledgeable
- "Outsider" compared to other boys (he is only one who hasn't not changed his behavior)

Dramatic Irony (the Beast)

- The boys are the beasts (their behavior)

Situational Irony (the boys' eventual rescue)

- They are rescued when Ralph finally realizes that the boys are the real beasts

Verbal Irony (Jack's assertion of British Superiority)

- Aggressive Tone
- Bossy: says that only strong, big and smart people can have a voice to talk