Lord of the Flies Conch Shell Symbol

By
Responsive Centered Red Button

Need Help with this Question or something similar to this? We got you! Just fill out the order form (follow the link below), and your paper will be assigned to an expert to help you ASAP.

Order Form

Everyone has a personality shell. For instance, one might have a soft shell (with a sensitive personality), one might have a hard shell (with a strong-willed, egomaniacal personality), or one might be somewhere in between. But that personality shell greatly symbolizes who they are. That same type of symbolism is greatly used in Lord of the Flies by William Golding with a conch shell, sharing a huge resemblance to the personality of Ralph, the main character. Authority, leadership, and government ties Ralph and the conch together, and they can be perceived as one.
Don’t use plagiarized sources. Get your custom essay on
“ Lord of the Flies Conch Shell Symbol ”
Get custom paper
NEW! smart matching with writer

These aspects of society in which the conch and Ralph share makes the conch one of the most significant symbols used in the book. Ralph is the athletic, ambitious, charismatic protagonist of the story. He in himself represents civilization, order, and leadership. He makes a speech to the boys in the beginning of the novel about what needs to be done to extend their chances of being rescued, and organizes the society.

“There’s another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us.
So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire” (37). He constantly was emphasizing the need to keep a signal fire going, so a ship could see it. In the beginning everyone agreed with his speech, elected him leader, and were followers of him. Ralph set the conch as a symbol of authority to call the meetings, and if anyone had the conch, they had the right to speak with everyone’s undivided attention.
This was an attempt to keep order and peace within everyone, and serve as the order that the boys are used to living with in the adult world.
He chose his council under him, much like a government, and he made sure to keep his eye on the prize ? the chance to be rescued. No matter what happened or went on, there was always hope in him that a rescue ship would come to save them. His great self esteem and positive attitude was also very apparent throughout the whole novel. ” f ” (42). Ralph shows how ambitious he is and shows his great leadership throughout the whole novel, and he stays true to his morals, regardless of who turns against him.
Read also: Gang Leader for a Day
Ralph is an exemplary character, and was one of the only good characters by the end. He is a great and practical leader, and has authority, very much like the conch shell. The conch is actually much more than a symbol?it is an actual vessel of political legitimacy and democratic power. As the island civilization erodes and the boys descend into savagery, the conch shell loses its power and influence among them, and as the conch slowly loses influence, so does Ralph. Once all the boys are ganged up on Ralph and Piggy, they smash the conch to pieces.
Chaos starts and everyone is set on killing Ralph. This shows how the idea of savagery, revolts, and rebellion can overcome the rationality of authority, organization, and society in humans. Without the authority that the conch provided, the inner beast inside every one of them couldn’t be controlled, and that sent the whole society crashing down, to the point where they almost got killed. Golding’s purpose in this incident is to show the importance in government and authority for the higher rank. Which is better–to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill? ” (164). Rebellion, anger, and frustration might come toward someone in charge, but without an authority, a society couldn’t survive. Of course not everyone can be naturally rational and organized. No two people are exactly the same. Everyone is born with their own unique shell, however that doesn’t necessarily mean that it can’t be allowed for someone to mold another and open them up. Humans are born one way, but they’re like soft clay.
Surroundings, exposure, and environment bump into them and make dents in the clay, changing it up bit and making temporary effects, which happens with everyone. But sometimes, someone or something may step in and hold the clay and mold it into something life changing. And one can either resist the change, or they can go along with the change. And going along with it allows their life to be molded and their mind to be opened up. And being molded and opened can be a big benefit in the long term.

Jaime Barber

Share

How to create Testimonial Carousel using Bootstrap5

Clients' Reviews about Our Services