Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Symbolism of Simon in Lord of the Flies

Good Essays
896 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Symbolism of Simon in Lord of the Flies
Do you know someone who naturally brings out the good in people, or who always does the right thing no matter what? Simon is a shy, kind, hardworking boy who always puts others first. He tries to warn everyone on the island that there is not a beast but because he tries to do what he knows is right he gets killed by the other boys. Simon is one of the important characters in Lord of the Flies. He is one of the important characters in the novel because he represented the struggle between good and evil inside of people, nature, and Jesus or religion.
The first thing that Simon represents is the struggle of good vs. evil in people because he is always putting others first and doing what is right but, at the same time, he is the only one that interacts with the Lord of the Flies, who could represent evil. Simon was the only one that helped Ralph build the shelters while everyone else was goofing off. He also helped the littluns get fresh fruit from the trees instead of letting them eat the fruit on the ground that could make them sick. Those are both things that show the good people can do. His interaction with the Lord of the Flies was more than likely a hallucination of some sort because a pig’s head on a stick cannot talk. The Lord of the Flies is evil and wants the boys to hurt or kill each other and, since he is a hallucination, it shows that there is an evil part of Simon that he tries to suppress or he may not even know is there.
The second thing that Simon represents is nature because he goes into the forest on his own to surround himself with nature and appreciate its beauty and does not harm the plants or animals around him. Once Simon is done working and helping the littluns he goes into a clearing in the jungle and hides in a tangle of vines. He sits there and just listens to the sounds of the jungle and ocean and watches the animals. As he listens and watches he seems completely absorbed and at peace with nature. He is also the one who pointed out the “candle buds” which shows he was being more observant of the plants and things around them. He also knows where the freshest fruit is while most of the other boys don’t seem to know or even seem to care about the freshness of the fruit. He does not disturb the animals around him unlike the other boys. Simon is the only boy that never participates in hunting or the hunters’ dance.
The third and final thing that Simon could symbolize is Jesus or religion because he is prophetic, gathers all his information from faith alone, and is the only inherently good boy on the island. Simon tells Ralph that he (Ralph) will get off the island okay but does not say that everyone will. This is prophetic and foreshadowing of Simon and Piggy’s deaths as well as the rescue of the boys that saves Ralph from the same fate. He also has no logical explanation or evidence of his claim; it is base solely on faith. Simon also realizes that there is no beast but rather it is the boys themselves. He is the only naturally good boy on the island. The other boys do not act civilized because of morality but because of social conditioning and the threat of punishment, where as Simon is civilized and good because of morals and spiritual connection to nature. Even the seemingly civilized Ralph and Piggy are not as civilized as they appear, as we see when they participate in the hunters’ dance that kills Simon. Simon can also represent Jesus because of his confrontation with the Lord of the Flies, who can represent the devil. The confrontation between the two can be seen as a parallel to Jesus’ confrontation with the devil during Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness. Simon’s clearing in the jungle could be compared to the Garden of Eden, which is pure and perfect until evil invades it, this evil being the other boys and the Lord of the Flies.
Simon is an important character in Lord of the Flies because he represented the battle between good and evil inside of people, nature, and Jesus or religion. Simon symbolizes good vs. evil because he puts others first and does what is right but, at the same time, he is the only one that ever speaks with the Lord of the Flies, who could represent Satan. Simon is a symbol of nature because he goes into the forest on to envelop himself in nature and value its beauty and does not harm the plants or animals on the island. The final thing that Simon could represent is Jesus or religion because he is prophetic, all his information is based on belief, and he is the only naturally good boy on the island. Simon is a timid, thoughtful, reliable boy who always does the right thing. He tries to tell everyone that there is not a beast but because he tries to do what he knows is right he gets killed by the other boys. The book would not have been the same without Simon.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Simon also never fell for the illusions of the beast and despite the fact that he is one of the smallest biguns he never follows the others and always does what he wants to and says what he wants to. One such occasion where he shows his defiance of the others beliefs is when he says to everyone, "I think we ought to climb the mountain." (page 128) This shows that he knows the beast isn't real and he shows no fear of the unknown. Christ called people to do things they thought impossible just as Simon did here. Many people said that the things Jesus wanted them to do were impossible, and here whne Simon said they should do something they said that since the three strongest boys couldn't do it no one could.…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the book Lord of the Flies Simon has changed from being a sensible, skittish, weak boy to a distorted, brave, helpful boy. In the begging of the book Simon is introduced as the weak boy who isn’t strong enough to hold up his own weight. After Ralph blows the conch for the very first time a new group of boys arrives called the Choir this is were Simon faints Merridew the Choir leader says, “he always throwing a faint”(20), Merridew is talking about Simon. Another time when Simon comes off being weak and afraid is when he admits to believing in a beast and says, “maybe, maybe there is a beast”(88). Although Simon is weak and afraid he is very sensible and is able to keep a sense of hope Simon tells Ralph that, “you’ll get back to where you came from”(111). Another sensible thing that Simon said was how the beast is in every one although this seemed weird at the time as the book went on Simons theory became more true almost everyone resorted into being a beast who murdered people.…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    2. Simon’s character is courageous, adventurous, friendly and loyal. He has a strong relationship with God and has lots of faith.…

    • 747 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As Ralph is sitting on the beach telling Simon about his desire to leave the island, Simon reassures Ralph that he will leave the island and be fine. Simon offers his wisdom to Ralph because he fully grasps onto the longing Ralph is feeling. Wanting to lift Ralph from that pain, he shows how gentle his heart is and how he cares for the rest of the group. Jesus also gave others his wisdom and advice, often to those seeking some direction in life. Although Simon does not attain supernatural powers, Jesus can for example, cure the blind. This allows Jesus to attend to the less fortunate and supply individuals with a sense of protection. Simon shows his powers in different ways, supplying fruit for the littluns when they cannot reach it. This gives the littluns someone to look to, as the other biguns seem to have forgotten about them. Tending to the common people, both Jesus and Simon are naturally compassionate and can sense the emotions of others well. Out of the goodness of their hearts both express their innocence in way in which they realize to do things not in spite of their guilt, but because naturally they are not morally…

    • 926 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He was a unique child who believed that both good and evil resided within each person. Through the story Simon acted as the Christ figure. Simon was epileptic and had E.S.P. Simon foresaw the fate of Ralph and his own. ?You?ll get back all right. I think so, anyway.? (Page 121). Simon viewed his fate and witnessed the killing of the sow. Prior to one of his seizure?s he saw his death. The Lord of the Flies spoke to him and said, ??we shall do you. See? Jack and Roger and Maurice and Robert and Bill and Piggy and Ralph?? (Page 159). Shortly before his death he came to the realization that the beast was not a creature but something that was within Jack and the hunters. He believed that he should tell the truth despite the consequences. In turn he was sacrificed for the continuation for the evil on the…

    • 1041 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Simon is an overall really kind person who always thinks of others, and it respectable. In part II of the movie, the hunters finally killed the pig, and after a while of not eating, they could finally enjoy a meal. Everyone got to eat besides Piggy, and when Piggy asked for food, Jack sternly told him no. Simon offered his part of the pig to Piggy, and he accepted. Simon shows how sincere he is in part II of the movie. After the assembly about whether or not there is a ghost, Jack went against the rules and split up from Ralph because he was angry that Ralph opposed going after the beast. Ralph wanted to give up on being chief, but Simon decided to stay back with him and encourage Ralph not to give up on being the leader. Simon constantly does what he thinks is best for not just himself, but everyone else…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Meaning in Lord of the flies

    • 3894 Words
    • 16 Pages

    The main allegory for Lord of the Flies is that without civilization, savagery takes over. The Lord of the Flies and the Beast are not really physical characters. It is the evil that is in every human being. Without civilization the boys unleashed this evil. Piggy stood for intellect which every civilization needs, when he died it showed that savagery had completely taken over. Also Simon stood for morality, but not because civilization told him to be moral, but because he knew that morality was natural. But this book shows the allegory that savagery is stronger and more natural than civilization, this it took over. The death of Simon indicates how morality and goodness cannot survive within savagery.The main allegory for Lord of the Flies is that without civilization, savagery takes over. The Lord of the Flies and the Beast are not really physical characters. It is the evil that is in every human being. Without civilization the boys unleashed this evil. Piggy stood for intellect which every civilization needs, when he died it showed that savagery had completely taken over. Also Simon stood for morality, but not because civilization told him to be moral, but because he knew that morality was natural. But this book shows the allegory that savagery is stronger and more natural than civilization, this it took over. The death of Simon indicates how morality and goodness cannot survive within savagery.…

    • 3894 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Simon is set apart from the others early in the book as we notice how he is not always on the same wavelength as the others. He is a calm, passive, and excessively timid young boy. He is considered as quite a joke by the majority of the boys, however the things he say have a devastating effect on the events that follow. The more…

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Simon, a Christ-like figure in Lord of the Flies, is a significant example in proving that humans are essentially good. For example, Simon cares about the well-being of the other boys: "...he turned to the poor broken thing that sat stinking by his side. The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible" (Golding 147). Simon wants the other boys to be aware of the dangers that are actually facing them on the island so the boys do not put themselves or other boys in danger over a made up entity while they are trying to survive on the island. He does not want anyone to be overexerting themselves to try to kill the fictitious beast. Simon shows generosity when he volunteers to hike across the island: "'Someone's got to go across the island and tell Piggy we'll be back after dark.' ...Simon pushed his way to Ralph's elbow. 'I'll go if you like. I don't mind, honestly'" (Golding 117). Simon possesses a helpful nature even faced with the difficult task of surviving on an island with multiple other boys. Perhaps he volunteers to save the other boys from the trouble of this long walk. Simon proves that humans are essentially good by showing generosity and care while the act of the other boys forming friendships also proves humans are good.…

    • 229 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Simon In Lord Of The Flies

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages

    For quite some time throughout my reading of this novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding seemed to foreshadow a dark ending; the savagery of the human nature taking over the will of well-mannered thoughts and fundamentality of behavior with no return. Perhaps it was the characters’ slow transition into tribal lifestyle, the curiosity of Simon that led him to a horrific fatality, or even the death of an innocent. Within a multitude of instances, we see a slow transition from civilized manner to a terrible insanity and evil. The boys, young and naïve, attempt to be proper island wanderers and develop what seems to be a rough form of government. Ralph, the protagonist, symbolizes order and civility, while Jack, the obvious antagonist,…

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The use of imagery helps the reader to paint a mental image of the scenes throughout the book. As Simon…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The second group of children are classified by the cursed and wicked from the biblical story. Jack and Roger represent those influences by the Devil and Beelzebub. Finally, Simon’s death represents the death of Christ. Although Simon’s death does not represent the same sacrifice Jesus made, it holds some significance. After his murder, Golding describes the way Simon’s body submerges into the sea. The atmosphere during this time is subdued and the loud roar of nature quiets. The sky is filled with “an incredible lamp of stars” (Golding 156). This lull in nature shows his high stature to all things created by God. The final sign of importance after his death is when his body is pulled out to sea. His descent into the ocean can be compared to one’s ascent into heaven. This all attributes to Simon’s religious placement throughout the story. Simon is a character who refrains from the lusts from many of the other boys. His driving force for remaining civilized lies in his divine beliefs and commandments which he follows. He is one of the few characters who use their specific beliefs in order to remain…

    • 1580 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Unlike McMurphy, Simon does not revel his isolation and instead chooses to isolate himself further by wandering into the forest wilderness and away from the rest of the group. Simon’s seizures and shyness lead to the other older boys ignoring him when he does try to talk at their meetings, even though Simon has the most insightful thoughts out of any of them. In addition to being the most insightful, Simon also experiences an altered perception of reality when he imagines “. . . Lord of the Flies was expanding like a balloon. . . blackness within, a blackness that spread” (Golding,143-144).When Simon walks out of the forest with the body of the dead parachutist, the boys, in a social gathering of their own, immediately kill him. By not joining the other boys in the feast, Simon highlights his social isolation. This eventually leads to his death. All of the rest of the young boys, including Ralph and Piggy take part in the feast. The only boy missing is Simon, further exemplifying to what extent his social isolation reached. In this fatal feast, which Simon does not partake in, the others brutally murder him, mistaking him for the beast. Simon’s social ostracization and therefore isolation from the other boys eventually leads to his savage murder proving that when Simon is not part of the norm, because of his frequent…

    • 1381 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Lord of the Flies, Simon has been characterized in a sort of all seeing, knowledgeable creature. Having epilepsy, or a similar condition, was considered a holy disease, that he was connected with god because of it, he was purer than the other boys in a sense. The scene after his death really shows that. The passage describes the “clear water [that] mirrored the clear sky” and the flowing of nature around Simon. Had it been one of the other, the corrupted and savage boys, the flowing of the water, the moving of the waves, and the creatures around them would have been disturbed by the body floating there. However, Simon is simply welcomed into the water, “The water rose farther and dressed Simon’s coarse hair with brightness. The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculptured marble.” Even in death…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A prime example of symbolism in Lord of the Flies is the representations of Jack and Simon. Jack is the leader of the island's hunters. His leadership technique is to intimidate, frighten, or even threaten those that he leads. From a historical standpoint, Jack's governing style could be compared to Stalinist totalitarianism or even Nazi fascism. If Lord of the Flies were a religious allegory, Jack would, undoubtedly, represent Satan. This is evident by the way he encourages others to be bad. Jack has very few useful qualities, among these is bravery. However, his bad traits and his lust for blood obscure his bravery. Ralph's efforts to get Jack to follow the rules are useless. Jack frequently has tantrums and acts savagely. "Bollocks to the rules! We're strong-we hunt! If there's a beast, we'll hunt it down! We'll close it and beat and beat and beat and beat"¦!" Simon is the exact opposite of Jack. Simon represents goodness and pureness. Simon is a "Christ Figure" in Lord of the Flies. He goes off into the jungle frequently for solitude and meditation. Jesus did the same thing when he wandered the desert for forty days. Simon shows no fear like the other boys. Simon seems above the other boys; he is mystical and spiritual. Just like Jesus delivered the lord's message, Simon tries to deliver the Lord of the Flies'message from the "beast" to the boys of the island. This is symbolic of how Jesus delivers God's message to mankind. Also just like Christ, Simon is killed by his fellow man before he can deliver the Lord of the Flies' message. In this passage Simon is followed by the "littluns" much like Christ was followed. Instead of feeding bread and fish, Simon gives fruit. ""¦Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach,…

    • 862 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics