Fire In Lord Of The Flies Essay
Fire has been a part of the world since the time of the Bible. However, it seems like it is no longer an important part of the human society today. For modern humans, fire is mostly used for recreational activities, such as camping. However, in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, fire is a representation of the downward spiral of the young boys as they try to survive on the island. The destruction that occurs on the island can be better understood by examining the symbol of the fire through the loss of life, innocence, and humanity.
The loss of life is experienced three times in the story. The very first being the inferred death of the boy with the mullberry birthmark. In the beginning of the novel, the boys set up a fire in hopes of being rescued. As a result of reckless behavior exhibited by the boys, the fire becomes out of control and burns one side of the mountain. In the process of the fire burning, Piggy realizes that one of the younger kids is missing. “'That …show more content…
Throughout the novel, the boys all lose their innocence in one way or another. In the earliest parts of the novel, the fire is innocently used a smoke signal for the boys rescue and return to society. However, the fire burns out when Jack and the other boys go on their first pig hunt. After the killing of the first pig, the boys come back and they talk about the details of the hunt. “‘I cut the pig’s throat,” said Jack, proudly, and yet twitched as he said it” (Golding 69). By Jack saying that he is proud of killing the pig, it proves that he is begining to lose his childhood innocence. After the talk about the killing is over, the boys cook the pig over the fire that is supposed to be used as a signal; however, they use it as a way to cook the meat from their kills. Using the fire for the boys hunting activities, leads to the loss of innocence and devastation of the
The loss of life is experienced three times in the story. The very first being the inferred death of the boy with the mullberry birthmark. In the beginning of the novel, the boys set up a fire in hopes of being rescued. As a result of reckless behavior exhibited by the boys, the fire becomes out of control and burns one side of the mountain. In the process of the fire burning, Piggy realizes that one of the younger kids is missing. “'That …show more content…
Throughout the novel, the boys all lose their innocence in one way or another. In the earliest parts of the novel, the fire is innocently used a smoke signal for the boys rescue and return to society. However, the fire burns out when Jack and the other boys go on their first pig hunt. After the killing of the first pig, the boys come back and they talk about the details of the hunt. “‘I cut the pig’s throat,” said Jack, proudly, and yet twitched as he said it” (Golding 69). By Jack saying that he is proud of killing the pig, it proves that he is begining to lose his childhood innocence. After the talk about the killing is over, the boys cook the pig over the fire that is supposed to be used as a signal; however, they use it as a way to cook the meat from their kills. Using the fire for the boys hunting activities, leads to the loss of innocence and devastation of the