Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a book of tragedy, realization, life lessons, and triumph. The novel illustrates the flaws of humanity, as well as the assets. Lord of the Flies offers a remarkable amount of insight just from a first glance read, but when you understand the book and comprehend it from a larger perspective you grasp and appreciate the true messages, morals, and allegories of this profound novel. Lord of the Flies can be interpreted as a political, psychological, and religious allegory. Lord of the Flies can be exposed as a political allegory to the Second World War, as well as a psychological allegory to Sigmund Freud’s theory of the id, superego, and ego, and furthermore the novel is a religious allegory relating to the Christian faith, and the bible.
The novel Lord of the Flies can be interpreted as a political allegory to the Second World War. The characters of this novel as well as certain situations, symbolize the holocaust. Jack is a representation of Hitler as he rules by fear, and as noticed throughout the book Jack is sadistic. He waited until things were at an all time low when the boys had essentially lost all hope, and tried to use his power and persuasiveness to gain the respect and trust of the group and remove them from Ralph’s possession.
“ “Who’s going to join my tribe?” Ralph made a sudden movement that became a stumble. Some of the boys turned toward him. “I gave you food,” said Jack, “and my hunters will protect you from the beast. Who will join my tribe?”” - (page 150)
This passage from the book takes place after Jack holds a feast and invites Ralph’s tribe to join them. Jack has taken advantage of the hungry and desperate boy’s, and has manipulated negatives on the island such as food, and the beast to appear to the boys as no longer a worry or threat if they join Jack’s tribe. Piggy symbolizes a Jewish person in the allegory to the holocaust.