While reading the first two chapters of Lord of the Flies, I have noticed a symbolic meaning to the conch shell. Initially described as "creamy against ferny weeds", there is already something setting it apart from the environment of the island. Piggy calls it "valuable", while Ralph hardly seems to care about it, telling Piggy to "shut up" (15).
This is reflected later on in the book when Piggy is the only one following the rule that whoever holds the conch speaks. Initially described as "spiral" and "delicate", the conch appears to be pretty, but breakable (16). Piggy is constantly telling Ralph to be careful of the conch, so as not to break it. This clearly symbolizes society and order, showing that order is delicate, and it can be broken. Foreshadowing into later in the story, if the conch shatters, it would be like order has shattered. Without someone who cares about the conch, Piggy, there will be no one to pick up the pieces. If Piggy, the one who cares, is ignored to a certain point, there won't be a leader to show people the conch matters. How we act in society matters.
The conch's symbol of order is displayed when the boys all rush away to build a fire, "the conch forgotten" (page 38). Whenever there is a meeting, something related to order, the conch is used and remembered. Through the rest of the chapters, there are some boys like Piggy and Roger who regard the conch with respect, while others disregard it. In the case of Ralph, it is as though he is merely using the conch for show, pretending to be in control. When Piggy uses the conch, he is genuinely trying to take control of the situation. Piggy holds order and the boys are shoving that order away.
Although the surroundings are darkened, the conch stays pure. This is described when Jack held "the delicate thing carefully in his sooty hands" (page 42). The boys are all getting darker when the build the fire from soot, but perhaps they are getting darker in their hearts by ignoring order. Simon has an interesting part in this when he was "smearing a black cheek with his forearm" (page 42). This is when he is standing up for Piggy, doing what is right. Him wiping some of the soot away could be symbolic of trying to get back to the purity of what is right.
The conch brings up questions about whether or not we need order, and if there is a natural order to the world. I'll be interested to see how the conch's symbolic meaning develops throughout the rest of the book.
Julia,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting observation, and I agree with many of your points. But something that struck me was what if the conch 'darkened' or was simply forgotten? What would happen then? And possibly, will the boys learn to maintain order without the conch, or will they find something to replace it?
You brought up some very good points, and it definitely made me question how I've been interpreting the book.
Good job! :)
-Megan
You are both paying close attention to a very important symbol. The conch is not only literally the object that is held when there is democracy and order and respect for each voice on the island, but metaphorically a symbol of how precious and fragile that kind of society is. Continue looking at the adjectives and allusions surrounding the conch as it is used. And to your point Megan, watch out for any other symbol that functions to epitomize and describe a different kind of society (should such a situation arise).
DeleteJulia, I absolutely love the symbolism of the conch you have. I haven't actually ever thought about it, but I must agree. I also feel as is the conch symbolises the good, or the old lifestyle, in the boys while the beast represents the bad side of the boys.
ReplyDeleteThis is really good! I love it. I think there will be a lot more conch symbolism coming up that you can elaborate on.
-Sara
Julia,
ReplyDeleteI mostly thought about the Lagoon as the source for the conch, but never really how much the conch is a symbol in itself. You have some very good ideas, adding on is the conch perhaps becoming bleached because the society is fading away and disorder and entropy are taking over?
-Phoebe
I completely understand what you are saying. I believe that the conch has a big symbol in this whole story and symoolizes order. We also view this issue that as the boys get tanner the conch still says cream coloured and hasn't been changed. I wonder if this is a symbol saying that order is important and overrules everything. Since we have read more of the book I believe that the conch has continued to be a symbol of order however we do see that the idea of order starts to fall apart during the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your blog post!
I fully agree that the conch is a symbol for purity and the good of the world. Now that we have read the end of the story, it's become quite clear that the shattering of the conch was a metaphor for all the good on the island being completely wiped out. It's also interesting that Piggy died the same time that the conch was shattered. My guess is that Golding purposely wrote the story that way because Piggy was really the only character who treasured the conch and understood why it was so important.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading to the end of the book, I can totally agree that the conch symbolizes purity and good in the world and order in society. I guess if you didn't have purity and good then society wouldn't be in order? But I have one concern regarding metaphors. With us being both Christian, usually you connect white to being pure. But as the story progresses the conch starts to get whiter and whiter from the sun and stuff. But society on the island is getting worse and worse. It kind of contradicts each other don't you think?
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you're saying about the conch. Could it also mean civilisation too? Once the conch shatters, civilisation shatters with it making Ralph flee into the jungle. Civilisation crash and burns once the conch breaks and makes Ralph hide from a corrupted government.
ReplyDelete