Superego In Lord Of The Flies
Two aspects of the Freudian Theory are the id—the state of mind that acts on instinct—and the superego—the state of mind that acts as one’s conscience. In Lord of the Flies, Roger can clearly represent the id, whereas Simon acts as the superego of the group. Acting on one’s superego can easily be associated with innocence and good, which is illustrated in the novel. In chapter one of Lord of the Flies, Ralph and Jack climb up the mountain with Simon. As they reach the top, the boys get a clear, beautiful view of the island. It had a “circular horizon of water” (Golding, pg.21), and was “roughly boat-shaped” (Golding, pg.21). The setting was described in a way that was similar to paradise; “the air was thick with butterflies” (Golding, pg.21),
and there was a coral reef with “peacock water” (Golding, pg.21). However, acting on one’s id is associated with the complete opposite. Later in chapter seven, Jack and Ralph venture up the mountain once more with Roger. Everything they encountered was eerie and fearful; they heard “slithering noises” (Golding, pg.107) and encountered “a creature that bulged” (Golding, pg.109) with a “ruin of a face” (Golding, pg.109). Simon’s role as the superego is shown again in his treatment toward the littluns. When they followed him around, he “found for them the fruit they could not reach” (Golding, pg.46). He acts kindly by helping everyone he can. However, Roger’s treatment of the littluns clashed greatly with Simon’s. In chapter four, “Roger stooped, picked up a stone, and threw it at Henry…” (Golding, pg.51). Instead of helping them as Simon did, or playing with them, Roger’s first thought is to harm them. Although he “threw it to miss” (Golding, pg.51), he later shows more sadistic intentions and gives full rein to his cruel thoughts. Not only did their treatments to the younger boys differ, but the way they acted towards Piggy contrasted. As a conscientious, beneficial character, Simon aided Piggy when Jack refused to give him meat. He “wiped his mouth and shoved his meat over the rocks to Piggy…” (Golding, pg.62). Also, in chapter two, he insists that Piggy helped make the fire because they had “used his specs” (Golding, pg.33). Instead of laughing along with others, Simon assists Piggy whenever he is able. Roger, on the other hand, never helped Piggy in anyway. As Piggy tried in chapter eleven to talk some sense into the tribe, “Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight onto the lever.” (Golding, pg.163). In this chapter, he kills Piggy because, once again, savage and evil thoughts take control of Roger, and he acts upon them. Simon’s angelic actions undoubtedly dub him as the superego, and Roger’s insidious behavior mark him as the id of the group of boys.
and there was a coral reef with “peacock water” (Golding, pg.21). However, acting on one’s id is associated with the complete opposite. Later in chapter seven, Jack and Ralph venture up the mountain once more with Roger. Everything they encountered was eerie and fearful; they heard “slithering noises” (Golding, pg.107) and encountered “a creature that bulged” (Golding, pg.109) with a “ruin of a face” (Golding, pg.109). Simon’s role as the superego is shown again in his treatment toward the littluns. When they followed him around, he “found for them the fruit they could not reach” (Golding, pg.46). He acts kindly by helping everyone he can. However, Roger’s treatment of the littluns clashed greatly with Simon’s. In chapter four, “Roger stooped, picked up a stone, and threw it at Henry…” (Golding, pg.51). Instead of helping them as Simon did, or playing with them, Roger’s first thought is to harm them. Although he “threw it to miss” (Golding, pg.51), he later shows more sadistic intentions and gives full rein to his cruel thoughts. Not only did their treatments to the younger boys differ, but the way they acted towards Piggy contrasted. As a conscientious, beneficial character, Simon aided Piggy when Jack refused to give him meat. He “wiped his mouth and shoved his meat over the rocks to Piggy…” (Golding, pg.62). Also, in chapter two, he insists that Piggy helped make the fire because they had “used his specs” (Golding, pg.33). Instead of laughing along with others, Simon assists Piggy whenever he is able. Roger, on the other hand, never helped Piggy in anyway. As Piggy tried in chapter eleven to talk some sense into the tribe, “Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight onto the lever.” (Golding, pg.163). In this chapter, he kills Piggy because, once again, savage and evil thoughts take control of Roger, and he acts upon them. Simon’s angelic actions undoubtedly dub him as the superego, and Roger’s insidious behavior mark him as the id of the group of boys.