The Conch in Lord of the Flies shows the fine line between order and chaos.
Lord of the Flies is a novel about a group of boys stranded on an island who must find a way to survive.
One of the ways they do this is by using a conch shell to call meetings.
The following are quotes from Lord of the Flies with page numbers, including references to the conch.
Lord of the Flies Quotes With Page Numbers
What does the conch symbolize in Lord of the Flies Quotes?
The conch shell in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding symbolizes order, civilization, and democracy. It represents the power of authority and the importance of rules and structure in maintaining a civilized society.
“His ordinary voice sounded like a whisper after the harsh note of the conch. He laid the conch against his lips, took a deep breath and blew once more. The note boomed again: and then at his firmer pressure, the note, fluking up an octave, became a strident blare more penetrating than before.” (Chapter 1, Page 17)
This quote shows how the conch’s sound captures the boys’ attention on the island. It demonstrates the power and authority that the conch holds, as it can bring order and silence to the chaotic situation.
“But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch.” (Chapter 1, Page 22)
This quote suggests that the conch gives Ralph a sense of authority and respect among the other boys. It symbolizes his leadership and ability to maintain order and structure within the group.
“This toy of voting was almost as pleasing as the conch.” (Chapter 1, Page 22)
Here, the conch is compared to a “toy of voting,” indicating that it represents the democratic process.
The conch is a form of democracy because only those with the conch can speak. This works as long as everyone gets a turn at the conch.
“Then I’ll give him the conch. Conch? That’s what this shell’s called. I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.” (Chapter 2, Page 33)
In this quote, Ralph explains the rules of the conch, highlighting its role as a symbol of order and structure. The conch becomes a tool for ensuring that only one person speaks at a time, promoting fairness and preventing chaos during discussions.
“Piggy, partly recovered, pointed to the conch in Ralph’s hands, and Jack and Simon fell silent.” (Chapter 2, Page 34)
This quote demonstrates how the conch commands respect and obedience. When Piggy points to the conch in Ralph’s hands, it immediately silences Jack and Simon, showcasing the authority and power that the conch symbolizes.
“The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.” (Chapter 11, Page 181)
In this final quote, the destruction of the conch represents the complete breakdown of order and civilization on the island. With the conch shattered, there is no longer a symbol of authority and democracy, and chaos ensues.
If the conch had survived longer, Would order and civilization have outlived the conch?
Lord of The Flies Characters Symbolism and Analysis
Conch Quotes Lord of the Flies Chapter 1
“What’s that?”Ralph had stopped smiling and was pointing into the lagoon. Something creamy lay among the ferny weeds.“A stone.”“No. A shell.”Suddenly Piggy was a-bubble with decorous excitement.“S’right. It’s a shell! I seen one like that before. On someone’s back wall.
A conch he called it. He used to blow it and then his mum would come. It’s ever so valuable―”~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Ralph and Piggy, Chapter 1, Page 15
“His ordinary voice sounded like a whisper after the harsh note of the conch. He laid the conch against his lips, took a deep breath and blew once more. The note boomed again: and then at his firmer pressure, the note, fluking up an octave, became a strident blare more penetrating than before.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The narrator about Ralph and the conch, Chapter 1, Page 17
“The conch was silent, a gleaming tusk; Ralph’s face was dark with breathlessness and the air over the island was full of bird-clamor and echoes ringing.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The narrator about the conch and Ralph, Chapter 1, Page 17
“At last Ralph ceased to blow and sat there, the conch trailing from one hand, his head bowed on his knees. As the echoes died away so did the laughter, and there was silence.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The narrator about Ralph, Chapter 1, Page 19
“Let’s have a vote.”
“Yes!”
“Vote for chief!”
“Let’s vote―”
This toy of voting was almost as pleasing as the conch.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Roger about the conch, Chapter 1, Page 22
“But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The narrator about the conch, Chapter 1, Page 22
“Ralph smiled and held up the conch for silence.
“Listen, everybody. I’ve got to have time to think things out. I can’t decide what to do straight off. If this isn’t an island we might be rescued straight away. So we’ve got to decide if this is an island. Everybody must stay round here and wait and not go away. Three of us―if we take more we’d get all mixed, and lose each other―three of us will go on an expedition and find out. I’ll go, and Jack, and, and…”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 1, Page 23
“I was with him when he found the conch. I was with him before anyone
else was.”~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 1, Page 24
Conch Quotes Lord of the Flies Chapter 2
“By the time Ralph finished blowing the conch the platform was crowded.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (The narrator about the conch), Chapter 2, Page 32
“He lifted the shell on his knees and looked round the sun-slashed faces.
“There aren’t any grownups. We shall have to look after ourselves.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Ralph about the conch), Chapter 2, Page 33
“He held the conch before his face and glanced round the mouth.
“Then I’ll give him the conch.”
“Conch?”
“That’s what this shell’s called. I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, about the conch (Ralph and Jack), Chapter 2, Page 33
“Ralph felt the conch lifted from his lap. Then Piggy was standing cradling the great cream shell and the shouting died down. Jack, left on his feet, looked uncertainly at Ralph who smiled and patted the log. Jack sat down. Piggy took off his glasses and blinked at the assembly while he wiped them on his shirt.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, about the conch (The narrator), Chapter 2, Page 33
“And another thing. We can’t have everybody talking at once. We’ll have to have ‘Hands up’ like at school.” . . . “Then I’ll give him the conch. . . . I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 33
“Piggy, partly recovered, pointed to the conch in Ralph’s hands, and Jack and Simon fell silent.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The narrator about Piggy, Chapter 2, Page 34
“Nobody knows where we are,” said Piggy. He was paler than before and breathless. “Perhaps they knew where we was going to; and perhaps not. But they don’t know where we are ‘cos we never got there.” He gaped at them for a moment, then swayed and sat down. Ralph took the conch from his hands.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, about the conch (The narrator and Piggy), Chapter 2, Page 34
“The small boy held out his hands for the conch and the assembly shouted with laughter; at once he snatched back his hands and started to cry.
“Let him have the conch!” shouted Piggy. “Let him have it!”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, about the conch (The narrator and Piggy), Chapter 2, Page 35
“There’s pigs,” he said. “There’s food; and bathing water in that little stream along there―and everything. Didn’t anyone find anything else?”
He handed the conch back to Ralph and sat down. Apparently no one had found anything.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, about the conch (Jack), Chapter 2, Page 35
“Jack held out his hand for the conch.
“There’s pigs,” he said. “There’s food; and bathing water in that little stream along there―and everything. Didn’t anyone find anything else?”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, about the conch (Jack), Chapter 2, Page 35
“We’ve got to have special people for looking after the fire. Any day there may be a ship out there… and if we have a signal going they’ll come and take us off. And another thing. We ought to have more rules. Where the conch is, that’s a meeting. The same up here as down there.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Ralph, Chapter 2, Page 42
“Roger took the conch and looked round at them gloomily.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies (The narrator: about Roger), Chapter 2, Page 43
Conch Quotes Lord of the Flies Chapter 3
“Meetings. Don’t we love meetings? Every day. Twice a day. We talk.” He got on one elbow. “I bet if I blew the conch this minute, they’d come running. Then we’d be, you know, very solemn, and someone would say we ought to build a jet, or a submarine, or a TV set. When the meeting was over they’d work for five minutes, then wander off or go hunting.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Ralph), Chapter 3, Page 51
Conch Quotes Lord of the Flies Chapter 5
“Ralph shouted. Hear him! He’s got the conch!
What I mean is . . . maybe it’s only us.
Nuts! That was from Piggy, shocked out of decorum.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Ralph), Chapter 5, Page 89
“If I blow the conch and they don’t come back; then we’ve had it. We shan’t keep the fire going.
We’ll be like animals. We’ll never be rescued.”
“If you don’t blow, we’ll soon be animals anyway.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Characters: Ralph and Piggy), Chapter 5, Page 92
Conch Quotes Lord of the Flies Chapter 6
“Ralph took the conch from where it lay on the polished seat and held it to his lips; but then he hesitated and did not blow. He held the shell up instead and showed it to them and they understood.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies (The narrator about Ralph), Chapter 6, Page 99
“Conch! Conch!” shouted Jack. “We don’t need the conch anymore. We know who ought to say things. What good did Simon do speaking, or Bill, or Walter? It’s time some people knew they’ve got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Jack), Chapter 6, Page 101-02
Conch Quotes Lord of the Flies Chapters 8 – 11
“Jack turned, red in the face, his chin sunk back. He glowered up under his eyebrows.
“All right then,” he said in tones of deep meaning, and menace, “all right.”
He held the conch against his chest with one hand and stabbed the air with his index finger.
“Who thinks Ralph oughtn’t to be chief?”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Jack), Chapter 8, Page 127
“He laid the conch with great care in the grass at his feet. The humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye. “I’m not going to play any longer. Not with you.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (The narrator about Jack), Chapter 8, Page 127
“When I saw Jack I was sure he’d go for the conch. Can’t think why.”
The group of boys looked at the white shell with affectionate respect.
Piggy placed it in Ralph’s hand and the littluns, seeing the familiar symbol, started to come back.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (The narrator and Piggy), Chapter 8, Page 141
“The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (The narrator about the conch), Chapter 11, Page 181
What is a quote about conch in The Lord of the Flies?
“Piggy, partly recovered, pointed to the conch in Ralph’s hands, and Jack and Simon fell silent.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (The narrator about the conch), Chapter 2, Page 34
What was the quote about the conch breaking?
“The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The narrator about the conch, Chapter 11, Page 181
What is the quote about the conch in Chapter 11 Lord of the Flies?
“The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.”~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The narrator about the conch, Chapter 11, Page 181
I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak page number
This quote by Jack is on page 33, chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies.
“Then I’ll give him the conch. . . . I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 33
What is the quote of Ralph finding the conch?
“If it really is an isl“What’s that?”Ralph had stopped smiling and was pointing into the lagoon. Something creamy lay among the ferny weeds.“A stone.”“No. A shell.”Suddenly Piggy was a-bubble with decorous excitement.“S’right. It’s a shell! I seen one like that before. On someone’s back wall.A conch he called it. He used to blow it and then his mum would come. It’s ever so valuable―”~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Ralph and Piggy, Chapter 1, Page 15
What is the conch in Chapter 6?
At the beginning of Chapter 6, the still conch symbolizes government and order on the island. When Ralph holds up the conch and shows it to the others, it signifies that he has the power to speak and make decisions.
But Jack dismisses the importance of the conch, indicating that they no longer need it and that the boys should leave decision-making to him and the rest of the group. This signifies a shift away from civilization and order towards chaos and savagery.
What does Jack say about the conch in Chapter 2?
“And another thing. We can’t have everybody talking at once. We’ll have to have ‘Hands up’ like at school.” . . . “Then I’ll give him the conch. . . . I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.”~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 33
What is the conch in Chapter 1?
In Chapter 1, the conch is introduced as a valuable shell found by Ralph and Piggy. It is described as a symbol of civilization and adult rules and a tool for establishing order and holding democratic meetings. The conch symbolizes Ralph’s legitimacy as a leader, as he is the first to utilize it for social purposes.
What does Jack say about the conch in Chapter 6?
“Conch! Conch!” shouted Jack. “We don’t need the conch anymore. We know who ought to say things. What good did Simon do speaking, or Bill, or Walter? It’s time some people knew they’ve got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 6, Page 101-02
Why is the conch important in Chapter 1?
In Chapter 1 of Lord of the Flies, the conch is important because it symbolizes civilization and democracy. Ralph blows the conch to gather all the boys together and form a civilized society.
The conch establishes order during meetings, ensuring that only one person speaks.
How is the conch used in Chapter 2?
In Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, the conch shell is introduced as a symbol of authority and order among the boys. Ralph declares that the conch will determine who has the right to speak during meetings, and whoever holds the conch will have the floor while the others listen silently.
The conch is passed between Ralph, Jack, and Piggy, establishing a system of rules and structure within the group.
What does the conch represent in Chapter 3?
“”I bet if I blew the conch this minute, they’d come running. Then we’d be, you know, very solemn, and someone would say we ought to build a jet, or a submarine, or a TV set.”~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Ralph, Chapter 3, Page 51