In Lord of the Flies, Simon represents the morality of society.
Lord of the Flies, by author William Golding, tells the story of young boys stranded on an uninhabited island.
The boys soon descend into savagery, forming two warring tribes.
One of the most quoted lines from Lord of the Flies is “I’m scared of myself,” spoken by Simon.
Here are some of the most memorable quotes from Simon in Lord of the Flies:
Lord of The Flies Quotes With Page Numbers
What is Simon’s personality like in Lord of the Flies?
Simon is a shy, kind, and hardworking boy in Lord of the Flies. Small and quiet, but his presence is strongly felt in the group.
He is the one who tries to do what is right and warn the others that there is no beast, yet he gets killed by the other boys.
He is also a thoughtful and reflective character who often takes time to observe nature and reflect on the situation. He has a strong sense of morality and justice and is unafraid to stand up for what he believes is right.
Simon is also a natural leader who can bring out the good in people. Despite his descent into savagery, he is the only character who retains natural human goodness.
He is the representation of the struggle between good and evil and of the power of religion.
Lord of The Flies Characters Symbolism and Analysis
Lord Of The Flies Simon’s Physical Description
Simon is a small and skinny boy with coarse black hair, a pointed chin, bright eyes, and a low, broad forehead. He was tanned when he first landed on the island and grows darker the longer he is stranded.
He often has episodes where he faints, such as at the beginning of the novel at the first assembly and after hallucinating that the pig head—the “Lord of the Flies”—is talking to him.
25 Ralph Lord Of The Flies Quotes
10 Simon Lord of the Flies Quotes With Page Numbers
Simon quotes from Lord of the Flies with chapters, page numbers, and explanations.
1. “We used his specs,” …“He helped that way.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Simon), Chapter 2, Page 42
Meaning: Simon’s quote emphasizes the importance of contributions to society beyond physicality and highlights the value of Piggy’s intellectual and practical knowledge in helping the group.
Piggy Lord Of The Flies Quotes
2. “You’ve noticed, haven’t you?”
Jack put down his spear and squatted.
“Noticed what?”
“Well. They’re frightened.”
He rolled over and peered into Jack’s fierce, dirty face.
“I mean the way things are. They dream. You can hear ‘em. Have you been awake at night?” Jack shook his head.
“They talk and scream. The littluns. Even some of the others. As if—”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Simon), Chapter 3, Page 52
Meaning: Simon showed Jack that the other boys on the island were fearful of their situation and displayed signs of fear, such as talking and screaming at night.
He looked at Jack intently, his face glowing, as he suggested that there was something sinister and frightening on the island.
3. “As if it wasn’t a good island… As if…the beastie, the beastie or the snake-thing, was real. Remember?”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Simon), Chapter 3, Page 52
Meaning: Simon suggests that the boys’ fear of the island is not unfounded and that the thing they should fear is not an external beastie but the darkness within each of them. He implies that the darkness in human nature is the true beast they should be wary of.
4. “There is nothing in it of course. Just a feeling. But you can feel as if you’re not hunting, but – being hunted, as if something’s behind you all the time in the jungle.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Simon), Chapter 3, Page 53
Meaning: Simon’s quote implies that although there may be no tangible proof of danger lurking in the jungle, he feels that something is lurking and stalking them, which causes fear and unease.
5. “I wanted—to go to a place—a place I know.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Simon), Chapter 5, Page 85
Meaning: In this quote, Simon is expressing his desire to find a place in the world that he can call his own, where he can feel safe and secure, away from the violence and chaos of the island.
6. “Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Simon), Chapter 5, Page 89
Meaning: Simon’s quote suggests that the evil and darkness they fear are not external but an intrinsic part of human nature. He implies that the beast they created is not physical but psychological.
7. “Simon stirred in the dark. “Go on being chief.” “You shut up, young Simon! Why couldn’t you say there wasn’t a beast?”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies (Simon), Chapter 5, Page 93
Meaning: This quote reveals Simon’s understanding of the boys’ fear and inner darkness as he encourages Ralph to remain in leadership despite their fear of the beast.
At the same time, his words reflect the other boys’ difficulty accepting this truth, as they would rather deny it than face it.
8. “You’ll get back all right. I think so, anyway.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies (Simon), Chapter 7, Page 111
Meaning: Simon’s quote shows his selflessness and willingness to support Ralph in any way he can, offering him hope and reassurance that he will make it off the island alive, even if Simon may not have the same luck.
9. “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast. . .”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Simon), Chapter 8, Page 143
Meaning: This quote from Simon reflects his understanding of the situation on the island and his acceptance of his role within it, as he recognizes that he alone is the only one who can help the other boys and that his presence is why the situation has become so chaotic.
10. “Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies (The head in Simon’s hallucination), Chapter 8, Page 143
Meaning: This quote from Simon implies that the “Beast” is not an external force but rather an internal one, as it is a part of everyone and the reason for the breakdown of civilization.
He suggests that it is human nature—not an external monster—causing destruction and chaos on the island.
What are some of the Simon quotes in Lord of the Flies?
“What I mean is . . . maybe it’s only us”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Simon, Chapter 5, Page 89
“You’ve noticed, haven’t you?
…
Well. They’re frightened.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Simon, Chapter 3, Page 52
“”They talk and scream. The littluns. Even some of the others. As if―”
As if—as if it wasn’t a good island”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Simon, Chapter 3, Page 52
“Simon, walking in front of Ralph, felt a flicker of incredulity—a beast with claws that scratched, that sat on a mountain-top, that left no tracks and yet was not fast enough to catch Samneric.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The Narrator about Simon, Chapter 6, Page 103
What does Simon symbolize in Lord of the Flies?
In Lord of the Flies, Simon symbolizes human goodness and saintliness. He is a Christ-like figure who is innately good and kind and ultimately dies in self-sacrifice to save the other boys.
His character is an allegory of the novel’s deeper, symbolic, or moral meaning.
What does Simon say the beast is us quote?
Simon suggests that the real thing the boys should fear is not an external beastie but rather the darkness within each of them.
He states that “being afraid of the beast turns them into beasts,” implying that the beast is the inherent evil inside each of them.
Simon understands that the island is changing them and that fear of an enemy can cause them to become the enemy themselves.
What is the quote about Simon’s death in Lord of the Flies?
Simon’s death in Lord of the Flies is foreshadowed in Chapter 8 when he has a conversation with the pig’s head, the ‘Lord of the Flies.’ In Chapter 9, the great wave of the tide moves farther along the island, and the water lifts.
“Somewhere over the darkened curve of the world the sun and moon were pulling, and the film of water on the earth planet was held, bulging slightly on one side while the solid core turned. The great wave of the tide moved farther along the island and the water lifted. Softly, surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures, itself a silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations, Simon’s dead body moved out toward the open sea.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The Narrator about Simon, Chapter 9, Page 154
Who killed Simon LOTF?
In Lord of the Flies, the entire group of boys mistakenly kill Simon when he comes to tell them his revelation about the beast. The boys mistook him for the beast and beat him to death, with Jack’s tribe leading the charge.
What does Piggy say after killing Simon?
Piggy tries to defend the boys’ actions, saying it is dark and they are scared, but Ralph points out that they know what they are doing. Samneric also plays coy, avoiding taking responsibility. Piggy then admits he was frightened and wishes to go home.
What does Simon’s death symbolize?
Simon’s death symbolizes the danger of spreading a moral truth and the limits of morality and rationality. In a way, it serves as an allegory for the death of Jesus, as Simon was trying to tell the boys the truth about the beast, yet they chose to take his life instead.
His death suggests that even the most well-intentioned acts of morality can have deadly consequences.
What does Simon sacrifice to Piggy?
Simon sacrifices his safety to help Piggy. He finds and passes down the fruits that are too high up in the tree for Piggy to reach, and he also stands up to Jack and his tribe to protect Piggy.
Simon’s loyalty and compassion for Piggy are shown throughout the novel and are defining characteristics.
Who dies first Simon or Piggy?
Simon dies first in Lord of the Flies after he is mistaken for the beast and brutally beaten to death by the boys. Piggy is the second to die after he is hit by a boulder thrown by one of Jack’s tribes.
Sources
- study.com/learn/lesson/simon-lord-of-the-flies-william-golding-quotes-symbolism-analysis
- sparknotes.com/lit/flies/quotes/character/simon/
- historyoflordoftheflies.weebly.com/quotes
Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the SPARK framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.