What is the importance of Simon in “Lord of the Flies”?
This is an essay for GCSE English Literature, which received an A. I also received an A* overall. Happy studying!
What is the importance of Simon in “Lord of the Flies”?
Throughout the novel (“Lord of the Flies”) William Golding uses
Simonfor many vital purposes. His spiritual nature contributes to his gentle
and innocent personality, presenting him as a moral paragon in the novel. This
is one of the most prominent importances of Simon within the novel, and
Golding utilises Simon’s peaceful character throughout his work.
From the opening chapter, Simon is swiftly established as the most
tranquil of the boys, remarking that the bushes in the jungle are “like candles.
Candle bushes. Candle buds”. By using the noun “candle” repetitively, Golding
explains to the reader that Simon is representative of religion, spirituality and
sainthood because candles are typically associated with worship. Over the
course of the novel, Simon is demonstrated to be a martyr and saviour-like
figure, with his life and death having many biblical parallels with the life of
Christ. Simon appreciates the beauty of the bushes, an example of the
respect and reverence he holds for the island and nature. This contrasts
greatly with Jack, who “slashed at one with his knife”, and the destruction that
the rest of the group caused to the island with their violent, raucous actions.
Setting Simon apart from the group as a much more peaceful individual. This
juxtaposition strengthens the plot of “Lord of the Flies”, as the polarity between
Simon’s tranquillity and the others’ aggressive actions makes the evil within
the other boys increasingly evident. Simon symbolises the moral standard that
the boys fall from. Golding utilises Simon in this way, using him to make his
message that evil resides within men more apparent.
When Simon interrupts Ralph, he assures him, claiming “you’ll get back
alright”. The use of the second person pronoun “you”, foreshadows Simon’s
death as he doesn’t include himself in the statement. This establishes Simon
as a prophet, further confirming how he symbolises religious figures. As a
prophet, Simon exercises foresight and understanding that the other boys do
not. Simon’s comprehension enables Golding to use Simon to explore the
group’s evolving morals from an informed perspective, allowing Golding to
convey his ideas to the reader in a distinct format.
These differences between Simon and the other boys cause Simon to
be perceived as “batty”, “odd”, or “cracked”. These adjectives are often used
by the other boys, expressing their experience of Simon as alien. The
adjectives have negative connotations and are frequently used to dismiss
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