2009. A symbol is
an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range
of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea,
clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and,
focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in
the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a
whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
In the novel Lord of the Flies written by William Golding, a conch shell is used to symbolize civilization and order. The conch shell is used to the help keep order in the novel and it reveals the characters' views of their society as well as emphasizing the meaning of the constant battle between civilization and savagery.
The conch schell was first discovered by Ralph and Piggy and it was blown into to summon all the other boys on the island. By using the conch to bring everybody together, Golding creates the conch as symbol of civilization very early in the novel. When everyone meets the conch is passed around by the children and whoever is holding the shell gets to speak. This symbol acts as a peace keeping device that is used by Ralph who is trying to lead in a peaceful and democratic way. As the play progresses and Jack and his hunters separate themselves from Ralph and Piggy, both Ralph and Piggy are constantly clutching the conch schell because the are trying to hold on to the remains of civilization and order they attempted to create. When a boulder is thrown on piggy which kills him an crushes the conch, all order is lost on the island. By destroying the conch, Golding uses the symbol to show how Jack and his leaders have destroyed all aspects civilization and order.
The conch reveals how the characters feel their society on this island should be organized. Ralph believes strongly in the conch in the beginning of the novel which shows his strong views about how the children on the island need order. As the novel progresses, Ralph begins to doubt the power of the conch, revealing his doubts that and orderly society will can actually work on the island. Piggy keeps his faith in the conch until his death, which reveals his constant belief in the need for civilization. Jack is the first person to doubt the conch's power. He ends up leading the savages who focus on killing instead of order and civilization. The characters belief or lack of belief in the conch shows whether they favor civilization of savagery.
The major theme and meaning of this novel involve the struggle between civilization and savagery. This battle is highlighted using the conch in the novel. When the conch is widely accepted and respected there is much more order on the island and they boys' society resembles a primitive civilization. As faith in the conches power and influence diminishes, savagery becomes more appealing to many of the boys. Once the conch is destroyed, savagery completely rules the island. The conch reveals the importance of civilization and order to prevent anarchy and complete chaos.
The conch shell is used is a barometer of the level of order in the novel. As the conch lost importance so the values the boys grew up with creating a island without any form of order, which almost leads to the their society's destruction.
Nathan,
ReplyDeleteYou did a good job not summarizing the plot, which is something I usually have trouble with. Nice job answering the prompt too. You showed how the conch was a symbol for an organized society, and how faith in the conch (or a lack of faith) affected the different characters in the story. Nice work!
Very good! It was well organized, made sense, and had supporting details. But in the last two paragraphs, you kind of said the same thing over again. Every paragraph had a unique idea ,but towards the end it lost some of that. Just make sure that you don't overstate your position.
ReplyDeleteHey Nathan, I was really impressed by your argument in this essay. It flowed well from one claim to the next. Your evidence was structured in such a way that I, someone who has never read Lord of the Flies, was able to follow your argument easily. I do have to agree with Amaris, though: you did seem to say the same thing in your third body paragraph that you'd already mentioned in your first. I'd integrate two paragraphs into one instead of deleting the last, though, because you stated your ideas very eloquently in the last body paragraph, and I wouldn't want you to lose that. I will say that I was sort of hoping, through the whole essay, that you would go a little deeper and mention my first thought: the actual physical structure of the conch and how it related to the idea of order. A conch, as I understand it, is fragile, and compartmentalized in a way that reflects the nature of order in the book. It builds slowly upon itself (with neat little compartments) over the course of years and years, but is broken in a matter of seconds. Just something that struck me while reading your first paragraph that I was sure would come up in your argument. Something to think about, I guess.
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