Lord of the Flies Quotations

"a witch-like cry"

A quote about the island which gives eerie connotations.

"good island"

Ralph says this when they first arrive on the island about his surroundings

"as if it wasn't a good island"

Simon says this as he is omniscient and knows the truth about the island

"flower and fruit grew together on the same tree"

Paradise - shows the significance of nature - paradisiacal

"their faces were lit redly from beneath"

Hell - shows the savage undertones of the island and the boys

"the sun gazed down like an angry eye"

Shows how nature is against them

'there was a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil'

a description of ralph showing his innate good

'Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking'

the relationship between jack and ralph was good at first is shown in this quote

'they walked along, two continents of experience and feeling, unable to communicate'

shows the rising antagonism between jack and ralph

'I can't think. Not like Piggy.'

shows ralph is beginning to see the importance of Piggy. His long hair is getting in the way and clouding his thoughts.

'Things are breaking up.'

foreshadows things on the island are going to go downhill

'The hair was creeping into his eyes again.'

long hair is clouding his ability to think

'If only they could send us something grown-up…a sign or something.'

they turn to the adults on the macrocosm when savagery takes over the microcosm

'The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.'

shows the savage instincts of the boys are over-taking their ability to think civilly

'Ralph was puzzled by the shutter in his brain.'

ralph's ability to think and make clear decisions is declining due to his distance from proper rules and order

'I'm frightened of us.'

shows the extent of the savagery - fear being created from the savagery it's a circle

'There was that indefinable connection between himself and Jack; who therefore would never let him alone; never.'

rising antagonism between leaders jack and ralph

'Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.'

shows how violence destroys the island

'We may stay here till we die.'

piggy foreshadows his death by saying …

'We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting.'

piggy comes up with the idea to instill order to the island - creating a civilisation within the microcosm with the conch

'Acting like a crowd of kids!'

Piggy has a mature way of thinking and criticises the childish behaviour of the boys

'It was an accident…He asked for it.'

Piggy tries to justify his action of killing Simon by lying. Shows how evil/violence has taken him under his wing as well

'His head opened and stuff came out and turned red.'

The idea of wisdom being lost in Chapter 11 is shown when Piggy dies

'He was the only boy on the island whose hair never seemed to grow

Piggy's hair never grows because he symbolises wisdom and the growth of hair shows unclear thinking

'Why should I be Jack? I'm Merridew.'

Jack instils fear right from the beginning wanting to be called much like a Lieutenant

'I ought to be chief.'

Jack immediately assumes control and power

'Lots of rules! Then when anyone breaks 'em.'

Jack conjures the idea of fear right from the beginning - showing signs of being a ruthless dictator

'dog-like', 'flared nostrils' 'primitive' 'ape-like'

Jack shows signs of regression

'the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.'

Painted Faces gives Jack a way to be distanced from the laws of civilisation and be free

'Bollocks to the rules!'

shows Jack's innate desire for savagery - he abandons the rules

'Jack, painted and garlanded, sat there like an idol'

this portrays the theme of religion - people worshipping a god, the theme of fear - people idolising him due to his power and dictatorial leadership

'Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach…passed them back to the endless, outstretched hands.'

Shows Simon's innate goodness - he always looks out for the littluns

'Passions beat about Simon on the mountain-top with awful wings.'

'maybe it's only us'

simon is the first to suggest that the evil within mankind is the true beast

'However Simon thought of a beast, there rose before his inward sight the picture of a human at once heroic and sick.'

simon recognises the true nature of the beast is actually within them

'There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.'

highlights ideas of regression and atavistic behaviour - the boys have descended into savagery

'moon-beam bodied creatures', 'pearls', 'silver', 'light', 'brightness', 'sculptured

marble'

beatification of Simon (becoming Saint-like)

'gloomy', 'forbidding'

Roger is described as being - and - right from the beginning - implying his sadistic nature

'Roger's arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins.'

links to the social control theory - roger was unable to throw the rocks as his arm was controlled by civilisation

'Roger, uncommunicative by nature, said nothing.'

shows roger shows no remorse for his actions and shows he takes pleasure in inflicting pain

'the hangman's horror clung round him.'

shows the dangerous person Roger has become after being separated from society - the idea that society controls the evil within - social control theory

'Roger sharpened a stick at both ends.'

Roger prepares a stick for Ralph to hang after they hunt him - showing his merciless nature

'Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.'

shows the boys descent into savagery - connotations of ritualistic behaviour as they use it as a chant

'There was the brilliant world of hunting, tactics, fierce exhilaration, skill; and there was the world of longing and baffled commonsense.'

Shows the differences in leadership focus between Jack and Ralph

'I know. Jolly good show. Like the 'Coral Island'.'

serves as a satirical contrast as it goes against Golding's intentions - he wanted to give a realistic idea of Coral Island as Coral Island is idealised