Symbolism In Lord Of The Flies

Piggy, Jack, Simon, and Ralph can all be seen as symbolic
characters in William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies.
Golding uses symbolism to display his belief of the nature
of mankind. He believes that the change from good to evil,
from civilization to primitivism is unavoidable if there is
not any direct authority over people.

Piggy, an overweight asthmatic boy about 8 years in age,
who cannot see without his glasses represents physical
weakness and mental strength. His poor vision and obesity
immediately establish to the reader his traits of physical
infirmity and incompetence. The glasses, however, help
illustrate his intellectual strength, his ability to think
situations over logically and use reason, rather than
emotions to decide upon important dilemmas. Piggy does not
let his emotions guide him. Through the course of the
novel, we observe how the allegorical society on this
uninhabited tropical island in the Pacific Ocean makes the
transition from carefully ...