What does the pig head symbolize in Lord of the Flies? The pig’s head, also known as the Lord of the Flies, takes on a powerful symbolic meaning in William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies. Golding uses the pig’s head to represent the Beast, which symbolizes the inherent evil within humans. This is made clear when Simon has a hallucination and realizes that the Beast cannot be killed because it resides within each human being. This article will examine the significance of the pig’s head as a symbol of evil and the effect it has on the characters and themes of the novel.
What does the pig head symbolize in Lord of the Flies? (Complete Answer)
In the novel the Lord of the Flies, the pig’s head, also known as the Lord of the Flies, takes on a powerful symbolic meaning. Golding uses the pig’s head to represent the Beast, which symbolizes the inherent evil within humans. This symbol is significant throughout the novel as it drives the plot and highlights the story’s themes.
From the novel’s outset, the pig’s head is portrayed as a gruesome and terrifying object. It is the head of a pig the boys have killed and is mounted on a stick as a trophy. However, as the story progresses, the pig’s head takes on a deeper significance as a symbol of evil.
In Chapter 8 of the novel, Simon has a hallucination in which he speaks to the pig’s head. The head, which he now refers to as the Lord of the Flies, speaks back to him, revealing that it is a manifestation of the evil that resides within each of the boys. The Lord of the Flies tells Simon it cannot be killed, as it exists within them all. This scene is crucial in the novel, as it represents the moment when Simon realizes the Beast’s true nature.
The pig’s head also represents the breakdown of society and the loss of innocence. At the novel’s beginning, the boys are all innocent and naive. However, as the boys spend more time on the island, they become increasingly savage and violent. The pig’s head, with its grotesque appearance and demonic voice, reminds us of the boys’ descent into savagery and the loss of their innocence.
Moreover, the pig’s head is significant in its connection to the Devil. The Lord of the Flies is the English translation of Beelzebub, one of the seven princes of Hell. This connection highlights the idea that the Beast represents not just the evil within the boys but the evil that exists in the world.
What does Jack killing the pig represent?
Jack killing the pig represents his desire for power and his willingness to use violence to assert that power. Golding suggests that Jack’s exhilaration is not just about providing food for the group but about the sense of superiority he gains from dominating another living creature. It foreshadows the violence and brutality unfolding on the island as Jack becomes increasingly obsessed with hunting and killing, and his desire for power spirals out of control. In essence, Jack’s killing of the pig symbolizes the struggle for power and dominance on the island.
What does Jack do with the pig head? Why?
Jack and his hunters kill a sow and cut off its head. They then decide to leave the head as an offering for the beast, which they believe to be real. Jack places the head on a stick and offers it as a gift to the beast. He intends this to be a display of power and respect to the supposed beast, hoping that the offering will spare them from harm. In essence, it is an attempt to assuage their fears and appease the perceived threat. The severed head becomes a symbolic representation of evil and savagery that has taken hold of the boys on the island.
What does the pig head say to Simon?
In the book “Lord of the Flies,” the pig head (also known as the “Lord of the Flies”) speaks to Simon. As the head continues to talk to Simon, it appears to expand “like a balloon”. It begins to threaten him and insists that they will “have fun on this island” without him. The pig’s head tells Simon that he is “not wanted,” which foreshadows Simon’s death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the pig’s head in Lord of the Flies symbolizes the Beast, which represents the inherent evil that exists within humans. Through its appearance and interactions with the characters, the pig’s head serves as a powerful reminder of the breakdown of society and the loss of innocence that occurs in the absence of civilization. Simon’s realization that the Beast exists within each of them highlights the novel’s central theme of the inherent darkness that lies within human nature.