Imagery in the Lord of the Flies

Imagery in the Lord of the Flies

Introduction

The Lord of the Flies is one of the most famous novels by the Nobel Prize recipient William Golding. The novel is marked by the use of allegorical references to describe the plot and the setting of the novel. The novel is about a group of boys who have been stranded on an island in the Pacific Ocean. Left to their own devices, start living according to their will. However, soon problems arise which ultimately leads to savagery by the boys.

Discussion

The characters of the novel get a unique opportunity to live all by themselves on the island. Here they have the choice to live according to their wishes. It is here that Golding uses his allegorical approach to address the two conflicting impulses of human beings: The desire to make a part of the system and the desire to rule. In terms of imagery, a good act is seen as leading towards civilization while a bad act is viewed as savagery. This competition between good and evil is something that is repeatedly seen in the novel.

The novel shows how different characters perceive this concept of instincts to civilization. Ralph, the protagonist is shown as a leader who follows rules. This tells us that Ralph is a person whose inclination is towards civilization. On the contrary, the main antagonist Jack is portrayed as a person who has savage instincts. This is clearly evident by his desire for power. It is also interesting to note that in this setting the characters are boys. The boys serve as allegories for the stage between civilization and savagery. They would be molded into a form that is governed by the experiences they will get (Oldsey & Weintraub, 1963).

In the first chapter of ...