Lord of the Flies is about a group of British boys stranded on an uninhabited island during World War II.
They attempt to govern themselves with disastrous results.
One of the things that makes Lord of the Flies so captivating is its utilization of symbols. Golding uses many objects and ideas in his novel to represent something else entirely.
In this article, we will look at each character and what they represent.
Lord of The Flies Quotes With Page Numbers
Lord of The Flies Characters List
- Ralph
- Jack
- Piggy
- Siman
- Roger
- Sam
- Eric
Ralph
Ralph is the athletic and charismatic protagonist in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.
Being a natural leader, Ralph wins the boys’ confidence and is appointed chief. A symbol of order, civilization, and productive leadership, he exerts every effort to establish a systematic and civilized environment among the boys.
Thinking pragmatically, Ralph focuses on tangible goals, such as building huts for shelter and strategizing rescue plans, which initially strengthens his position within the group.
Despite the gradual shift in the group dynamic, with most boys succumbing to their primitive instincts and shifting their allegiance from Ralph to Jack, Ralph’s commitment to civilization and morality remains unswerving.
He ardently aspires to be rescued and reintegrated into adult society. Even though he briefly contemplates joining Jack’s tribe to ensure his survival, he fiercely resists the pull of savagery that engulfs the others.
However, Ralph is not entirely immune to the thrill of violence, as seen during his first hunt and participation in Simon’s killing.
As the novel progresses, Ralph becomes aware of the inherent evil lurking within every human being, including himself, leading him into despair.
Despite the isolation and hunting by Jack’s tribe, Ralph stands his ground, opposing the shift towards savagery until the end.
When finally rescued, his victory seems bittersweet. Although he is physically saved and returned to civilization, Ralph is now burdened with a profound understanding of the human capacity for evil, which leaves a deep, lasting impression on him.
Ralph Lord of the Flies Quotes
Jack
In William Golding’s “Lord of The Flies,” Jack is a character epitomized by ego, lust for power, and unbridled will.
As the captain chorister and head boy who can sing C sharp, he assumes authority over the group, stemming from his deeply entrenched belief in his natural leadership.
One of Jack’s most potent symbols of power is his theft of Piggy’s glasses to ignite a fire, reflecting his determination to overpower and dominate.
Jack also represents aggressive nationalism, illustrated by his perception of English superiority that ignites his descent into savagery.
This is further demonstrated by his role as the leader of the island’s “hunters” and his misguided self-belief that he has the toughness to hunt the island’s beast.
Even Ralph, who brings a balance with his logical and intelligent approach, fails to meet Jack’s understanding of an ideal leader, further emphasizing Jack’s relentless pursuit of dominance and power.
Jack Quotes From Lord of the Flies
Piggy
In Lord of the Flies, Piggy stands out as an intellectual and rational character who often advocates order and civilization.
He’s the first boy Ralph comes across after the crash, making him Ralph’s most loyal and true companion.
As an overweight, intellectual, and talkative boy, Piggy often provides the brains behind most of Ralph’s innovative ideas. For example, he was inspired to use the conch to convene meetings and construct shelters for the group’s survival.
Conch Lord of the Flies Quotes
Piggy is physically inferior, with asthma and poor eyesight, which makes him a target for scorn and isolation. But he steadfastly represents humanity’s rational and scientific aspects.
He’s essential in supporting Ralph’s signal fires and solving various problems on the island. Piggy’s strict adherence to rules and his constant worries about how the adults will perceive their behavior demonstrate his longing for English civilization order.
Despite his determination not to succumb to the island’s savagery, Piggy falls prey to it, participating in Simon’s attack and murder.
His tragic death is symbolic, showing the vulnerability of intellectualism to brute force. His murder, arguably the most intentional on the island, symbolizes the boys’ disconnection from the last ties to civilization and humanity.
Piggy Lord of the Flies Quotes With Page Numbers
Simon
Simon is a shy, introverted boy but immensely kind-hearted and hardworking. Although he’s physically small and quiet, his influence within the group is palpable.
One of Simon’s distinguishing characteristics is his unremitting quest to do what’s right, even when it makes him a target, ultimately leading to his tragic death.
Simon often detaches himself from the rest of the group to observe nature and reflect on their circumstances, which underlines his thoughtful and reflective nature.
This introspection allows him to reveal the inherent darkness in human nature, a discovery that convinces some of the other boys that he’s insane.
Despite his youth, Simon possesses a robust sense of morality and justice and is unafraid to voice his convictions, which makes him a natural leader.
His compassionate actions, such as looking after the helpless Piggy, further amplify this leadership trait.
Simon represents the struggle between good and evil and the influence of religion. Despite the brutal environment and descent into savagery, Simon is the only character who retains his innate human goodness.
His appearance is characterized by his thin stature, coarse black hair, pointed chin, and bright eyes. Though initially tanned, he darkens while stranded on the island.
On several occasions, Simon faints, including at the novel’s beginnings during the first assembly and after hallucinating a conversation with the pig head—or “Lord of the Flies.”
Simon Lord of the Flies Quotes
Roger
In Lord of the Flies, Roger is introduced as a quiet, intense older boy. But his character transforms into a horrific figure of brutality and sadism as the story unfolds.
This dramatic change initiates midway through the book when Roger frightfully terrorizes the younger boy, Henry, with a flurry of rocks.
Recognizing Jack’s rise in power through his willingness to commit violence, Roger internalizes the concept of “irresponsible authority,” enhancing his destructive nature.
This perspective leads him towards descending into the pits of senseless violence and chaos, an exemplification of which is when he unhesitatingly releases a boulder that results in Piggy’s death.
The intensity of his transformed character terrorizes the twins, Samneric, fostering their views of Roger as a symbol of fear.
Roger’s characterization underscores the novel’s broader theme, which discusses the effects of sociopolitical breakdown and the liberation of primordial instincts when societal norms are dismissed.
Roger Lord of the Flies Quotes
SamnEric
Sam, along with his twin brother Eric, collectively known as Samneric, are molded by the events that unfold on the island.
Initially, they are part of Ralph’s group, and like him, they attempt to maintain order in contrast to Jack’s primal instincts.
Their united character signifies the basic human yearning for companionship and unity in adverse circumstances.
Over time, affected by the increasing savagery and lawlessness, they align with Jack, demonstrating the influence of pressure and fear on conformity.
Their slow transformation from order to chaos mirrors the overall decline of civilization on the island.
However, their inherent drive to conform to societal norms becomes evident when they reveal Jack’s plot to Ralph, showing their struggle to keep basic human morality intact amid deteriorating norms.
Sam and Eric’s evolution throughout the book showcases the susceptibility of human will and morality to severe adversity and fear.
Samneric Quotes Lord of the Flies With Page Numbers
The Little ‘uns
In “Lord of The Flies,” the little ‘uns represent childhood’s vulnerable, innocent, and obedient facets.
These are the youngest children on the island, small and immature, thus unable to participate in substantial tasks, including building shelters, tending the signal fire, or hunting. They stay separate from the older children unless a meeting is called.
Even though their role in the novel is relatively small, the littluns are pivotal. They introduce the crucial element of fear on the island, originating the idea of a beast living amidst them. They cling to the idea of the beast even after being initially disregarded by the older children.
The littluns symbolize innocent young children and the everyday ordinary individuals in society. Despite their best efforts to adapt and survive, they are often mistreated and disrespected, lending the book a layer of bitter reality.
The Beast
In “Lord of the Flies,” the Beast is a central symbol that signifies human beings’ latent savagery and inherent wickedness.
Initially, the boys on the island fear an imagined beast. They believe it is a ferocious snake-like creature or an evil entity emerging from the sea.
Their apprehension culminates when they mistake a dead paratrooper for the physical embodiment of the Beast.
However, the true Beast isn’t an external entity but a personification of the darkness inherent in human nature, a concept reflected in the boys’ aggressive actions.
In Simon’s symbolic vision, Golding portrays this through Jack’s brutal and power-hungry behavior and the slaughtered sow’s head swarming with flies.
This revelation confirms that the actual terror stems from their evil impulses and capacity for cruelty rather than a mythical Beast.
The Beast Quotes From Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies Characters Physical Description
- Ralph is fair-haired, athletic, and charismatic.
- Jack is described as being tall and thin with red hair. He exhibits authoritative physicality, signified by his choir robes and, later on, his transformation into tribal paint and garb.
- Piggy appears as a stout boy with glasses, indicating his astute insightfulness. His overweight, physical condition, which leaves him wheezing, echoes his vulnerable position within the group.
- Simon is portrayed as a more petite boy with coarse black hair and a pointed chin. His deepening tan conveys his long stay on the island, whereas his fainting spells denote his distinctive sensitivity to the brutal realities around him.
- Roger is frequently described as a secretive, sneaky, and quiet figure. His physical characteristics remain vague, which mirrors his stealthy and cruel behavior.
Who Dies In The Lord of the Flies Book?
What are the characters and personalities in Lord of the Flies?
The main characters in “Lord of the Flies” embody various personality traits that intensify their survival journey on the island.
- Ralph is a heroic leader who strives to maintain order while battling the antagonist, Jack.
- Jack and his hunters are characterized by their inclination towards satisfying their primal desires, gradually losing touch with the pillars of civilization.
- Piggy is an intellectual character whose wisdom often goes unappreciated due to his physical appearance.
- One of the most spiritual characters, Simon, separates himself from the other boys, often shown to be more in sync with the island’s natural elements.
- Roger, on the other hand, shows a chilling lack of respect for human life. All these characters form a complex picture of what it means to exist without societal rules and regulations.
Who is the most evil character in Lord of the Flies?
In “Lord of the Flies,” Jack typically stands out as the most evil, transitioning from civility to savagery by dismissing societal constraints and giving free reign to his primal instincts.
Another emblem of inherent evil could be Roger, who disregards human life. However, Golding’s novel explores the theme that all individuals possess an inherent evil, which comes to the fore when free from societal rules and norms.