Leonardo Vargas

Period # 4

January 9, 2011

Reason Vs. Instinct

Good versus evil, reason versus instinct. Lord of the Flies implies that human

morality can be overruled by the instinct of survival. Ralph, Piggy, and Simon reach for

civilization from the start of Golding’s novel. On the other hand, Jack, Roger and their

tribe seek power and the ambition of survival. The characters and objects of Lord of the

Flies precisely embody the novels motifs and morals, thus, making Lord of the Flies an

allegorical novel.

Ralph’s search for civilization is overpowered by Jack and his tribe’s instinct for

survival. Golding uses Ralph to represent civilization in the island. Ralph builds shelters

and even uses a conch in which its holder has permission to speak. This conch directly

symbolized democracy within the boys of the island. Both Ralph and the conch symbol-

ized the good side of humanity.

Jack and his tribe seek one thing. Survival. Jack is determined to survive by any

means necessary. He robs piggy of his glasses, he abandons the fire to go hunt, and he

sets up his tribe of hunters. Jack and Roger’s instinct for survival represent the evil

within mankind.

Piggy’s glasses play a vital role in the island. Not only do his glasses represent

civilization as well but they also symbolize power. The glasses were needed to make

fires on the island and fires were needed to keep warm and cook food. When Piggy’s

glasses are smashed it represented the end of civilization and intelligence and marked

the beginning of savagery.

The democracy within the conch, the intelligence within the glasses, the cruelty

within Jack and the morality within Ralph directly embody Lord of the Flies themes and

morals. The symbolism within these characters and objects make Lord of the Flies an

allegorical novel.