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Lord of the Flies--Piggy's Glasses

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Lord of the Flies--Piggy's Glasses
In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, he describes the loss of innocence a group of English boys on an island after a shipwreck. Many important objects and passages in the book are symbolic of civilization and human nature, so I chose the passage in Chapter 10, about Piggy realizing Jack stole his spectacles. Piggy’s spectacles are an important symbol in Lord of the Flies. Spectacles are usually related to civilization, scientific innovation, and intelligence, because only people in a civilization would have to use glasses. The symbolic meaning of the glasses is because they are used to make the signal fire, another important object in the book. As the book progresses, the condition of the spectacles deteriorate, just like the civilization in the book does. Piggy is no doubt the most intelligent and wise character in the group, thinking of brilliant ideas only one would think in an orderly civilization. His spectacles, then, might also represent the source of his intelligence and scientific mind. With his spectacles stolen, an important part of civilization is taken away, too. Spectacles are used to see clearly, which can also be seen as reason, and Piggy the voice of reason, due to his insight. Piggy’s source of intelligence and science is taken away from him, then what would happen next? The sudden assault of Jack’s group might also represent the condemnation of civilization from the savages. With the owner of the spectacles, Piggy, still alive, what might happen next? It acts as a foreshadowing of the killing of Piggy in Chapter 11, when Jack’s desire to kill the “pig”, Piggy, is fulfilled. The passage plays a significant role in the book, showing us the loss of humanity and the start of savageness. With these major obstacles representing civilization gone, what else is left for Jack to obtain, to complete his conquest of the destroying of the innocence of mankind?

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