Who is Beelzebub in Lord of the Flies? In William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies,” Beelzebub is a character that represents evil and chaos. In demonology, Beelzebub is known as one of the Seven Deadly Demons or Seven Princes of Hell, representing gluttony and envy. In the Dictionnaire Infernal, Beelzebub is described as a being capable of flight, which is why his name is “Lord of the Flyers” or “Lord of the Flies”.
Who is Beelzebub in Lord of the Flies? (Answer)
Throughout the novel, we see how Beelzebub’s presence affects the boys on the island. He is never mentioned directly, but his influence can be felt through various symbols, such as pig heads on sticks, flies buzzing around decaying flesh, and dark clouds hovering over them all.
The most significant symbol associated with Beelzebub in “Lord Of The Flies” is undoubtedly Piggy’s glasses. Piggy represents logic and reason, while his glasses represent knowledge and understanding. When Jack steals Piggy’s glasses to start fires, it symbolizes how evil has taken control over knowledge and understanding.
Furthermore, Simon’s encounter with the Lord Of The Flies confirms that Beelzebub represents evil temptation. During his hallucination, Simon comes face to face with a pig’s head on a stick covered in flies, which says “I’m part of you…close…close…close!”. This quote signifies how temptation can make even good people embrace wicked thoughts and actions.
Additionally, we see how Jack uses fear to control others by pretending to worship a beastie he claims lives on top of their mountain. Jack’s use of the beast serves as an allegory for using religion for personal gain.
Why is Lord of the Flies named after Beelzebub?
Lord of the Flies is named after Beelzebub, as it draws upon the Hebrew interpretation of the title to symbolically represent the descent into savagery and chaos. By associating the boys’ gradual loss of civilization with Beelzebub, who is seen as a demonic figure in Jewish tradition, William Golding highlights how their actions resemble those of flies swarming around filth. This association underscores the theme of how humanity’s inherent darkness can emerge when societal rules and structures are abandoned.
What does Beelzebub translate to?
Beelzebub translates to “lord of (the) flies” in one understanding, as Ba’al-zəbûb is the literal translation.
Who are the 7 demon lords?
The 7 demon lords are Lucifer representing pride, Beelzebub representing envy, Satan representing wrath, Abaddon representing sloth, Mammon representing greed, Belphegor representing gluttony, and Asmodeus representing lust.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it becomes clear that Golding wanted us to understand how evil takes hold when there are no rules or anyone to enforce them. Beelzebub’s character represents the epitome of chaos and evil, which could lead to a great disaster if allowed to run unchecked. The boys’ descent into savagery on the island illustrates how easy it is for people to indulge their baser instincts when there are no moral standards or consequences. “Lord of the Flies is a powerful novel that examines some of the darkest aspects of human nature, and Beelzebub plays a vital role in conveying these themes.