Lord of the Flies
by William Golding
Table of Contents
Simon
Simon represents the contemplative side of the novel. He has a passive nature that is willing to speak when necessary and willing to sacrifice when necessary. If there is a spiritual boy on the island, it is Simon. His hideaway in the forest likens him to a kind of medieval monk, retreating to his monastery in the hills away from the rest of society; there he takes refuge in meditation and finds solace in the world of nature. Simon is more attuned to life as it really exists than any of the others. He is not gifted in leadership or in public speaking, but makes an ideal companion because he is levelheaded, grounded, selfless, and thoughtful.
The fact that many of the boys, including Piggy, consider him “bonkers,” is indicative of their shallowness. Simon is, after all, the only boy with enough common sense to suggest an actual study of the “beast” before everyone begins leaping to conclusions and following courses of action that are not based on the reality of the situation. When Simon actually takes the initiative to discover the true nature of the “beast,” he is attacked and beaten to death. His end is the true martyr’s end.
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