The Sow’s Head and the Conch Shell
The sow’s head and the conch shell
In the novel, "Lord of the Flies," by William Golding, sow’s head and conch shell are two of the most important symbols. Each one of them reflects important values, and they are the two symbols that make Jack and Ralph start fighting together. The symbols both represent power, but what they represent is different from one another which lead Jack and Ralph having a distant relationship. Ralph and Jack are the two central characters who use the symbols to gain more power among the boys. In “The Lord of the Flies”, sow’s head and conch shell are the symbols that make the story more diverse and interesting as they imply essential values.
In chapter one, the conch was first used to summon the boys together into one group. Soon after the group had its first meeting it was determined that the holder of the conch may be the one to speak. “I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking” -Ralph. Ralph then became elected chief, partially because he had been the one to discover the conch. Ralph appoints the duty of hunting to Jack and the choir boys. Jack’s first hunting trip to kill a pig is the real trigger to his obsession. He attempts to kill the pig but he fails, which sends him into rage and fixation.
Throughout the novel you will notice that Ralph is a productive leader. In the beginning Ralph has the power of influence over the boys but as the story goes on, the
other boys decide to become more and more savage. Even though the majority of boys decide a different way of surviving, Ralph sticks to his instincts. After the murder of Simon, Ralph hugs the conch while telling Piggy what happened. In a way the conch is a type of comfort to Ralph. When Jack and his hunter’s succession at killing a pig, Jack decides to leave the head of the pig on a stake for the beast. This is a symbol of sacrifice to a superior power. In a way it is ironic because Jack strives to be the most powerful thing on the
In the novel, "Lord of the Flies," by William Golding, sow’s head and conch shell are two of the most important symbols. Each one of them reflects important values, and they are the two symbols that make Jack and Ralph start fighting together. The symbols both represent power, but what they represent is different from one another which lead Jack and Ralph having a distant relationship. Ralph and Jack are the two central characters who use the symbols to gain more power among the boys. In “The Lord of the Flies”, sow’s head and conch shell are the symbols that make the story more diverse and interesting as they imply essential values.
In chapter one, the conch was first used to summon the boys together into one group. Soon after the group had its first meeting it was determined that the holder of the conch may be the one to speak. “I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking” -Ralph. Ralph then became elected chief, partially because he had been the one to discover the conch. Ralph appoints the duty of hunting to Jack and the choir boys. Jack’s first hunting trip to kill a pig is the real trigger to his obsession. He attempts to kill the pig but he fails, which sends him into rage and fixation.
Throughout the novel you will notice that Ralph is a productive leader. In the beginning Ralph has the power of influence over the boys but as the story goes on, the
other boys decide to become more and more savage. Even though the majority of boys decide a different way of surviving, Ralph sticks to his instincts. After the murder of Simon, Ralph hugs the conch while telling Piggy what happened. In a way the conch is a type of comfort to Ralph. When Jack and his hunter’s succession at killing a pig, Jack decides to leave the head of the pig on a stake for the beast. This is a symbol of sacrifice to a superior power. In a way it is ironic because Jack strives to be the most powerful thing on the