LORD OF THE FLIES

by William Golding
ANALYSIS OF THE IMPORTANT QUOTES

Aslı DARENDELİ
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 RALPH:
Fair-haired, athletically built, good-looking
and from a prosperous, middle-class family.
He is the charismatic protagonist of Lord of
the Flies.
 In Chapter 1:
Ralph, Simon, and Jack go on an expedition
around the island and climb the mountain
together. When they reach the top, they can
see the beautiful ocean and the uninhabited
forest. Ralph comments,
"This belongs to us"
Ralph's statement displays his positive
attitude about being on the deserted island.
Mentioning that it "belongs" to them implies
that they are free to govern and engage in
whatever activities they like without
restrictions.
 In Chapter 2:
The boys hold an assembly and Ralph mentions that they should
build a signal fire on the top of the mountain. He says,
"And sooner or later a ship will put in here. It might even be
Daddy's ship. So you see, sooner or later, we shall be rescued"
Ralph demonstrates a positive outlook by saying that the boys
will be rescued sometime in the future.
 In Chapter 2:

Ralph conveys his leadership by holding an assembly to discuss the

necessary tasks to complete for survival and rescue. He says,
"There's another thing. We can help them find us. If a ship comes
near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on
top of the mountain. We must make a fire"
Throughout the novel, Ralph consistently reminds the boys of the
importance of maintaining a signal fire at all times. However, as the
novel progresses, the boys choose to join Jack's tribe and dismiss the
importance of a signal fire.
“And another thing. We can’t have everybody talking at once. Well
have to have ‘Hands up’ like at school.”
“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.”
This demonstrates Ralph’s ability to lead by establishing rules in an
effort to maintain order on the island, as well as his commitment to
achieving rescue and a return to civilization. Rather than seeing the
island as a playground free from adult interference, Ralph
immediately begins to organize the boys. He has them build shelters,
and start a signal fire to maximize their chance at a speedy rescue.
 In Chapter 2 :
“There aren’t any grownups. We shall have to look after ourselves.”

These lines are from Chapter Two when Ralph realizes that there are
only children on the island. It means there are no adults to guide them,
supervise them and stop them from doing wicked things.

 Lines from the end of Chapter 12:

• ‘’Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart,
and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.’’

• The boys encounter the naval officer, who save them. When Ralph sees
the officer, his sudden realization that he is safe and will be returned to
civilization plunges him into a reflective despair. The rescue is not a
moment of unequivocal joy for Ralph because he realizes that although
he is saved from death on the island, he will never be the same. He has
lost his innocence and learned about the evil in human beings.
JACK MERRIDEW:
He is described by Golding as
"tall, thin, and bony; and his
hair was red beneath the black
cap. His face was crumpled and
freckled, and ugly without
silliness. Out of this face stared
two light blue eyes, frustrated
now, and turning, or ready to
turn, to anger."
 In chapter 1:
Jack immediately demonstrates his need to be in control when Ralph
suggests that the boys select a chief. Jack responds by saying,
‘’I ought to be chief . . . because I'm chapter chorister and head boy. I can
sing C sharp.’’

 In Chapter 2:

“We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages.
We’re English, and the English are best at everything.”
These ironical lines are spoken by the villain, Jack. He willingly accepts that
there should be rules and that they should accept and obey them. He also
asserts that they are not savages and wild people. Obeying rules means
that they are civilized and cultured. But later in the novel, he leads a group
of savage hunters who kill Piggy and hunt Ralph, their former leader. He
wants to stress upon his Englishness. The English considered themselves
superior and owner of the proud civilization. Here, Jack stresses upon the
same fact that as they are English, they are the best at everything.

"Bollocks to the rules! We're strong---we hunt! If there's a beast, we'll hunt
it down! We'll close in and beat and beat and beat----!" (Golding 91)
 In Chapter 4:
“Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.”
Jack, the opponent of Ralph, speaks these words
when going on hunting. He has gathered some
strong boys around him. He has asked them to paint
their faces, as they are all hunters. These words are
repeated as a slogan and as a provocation when they
hunt pigs on that island. It indicates slow
degeneration of their civilized manners. The word
“blood” shows that the hunters will soon turn to kill
their opponents, because they are learning to spill
the blood.
PIGGY:
He represents the adult type on the island.His
physical traits are much like an older person.He is
fat, he is nearsighted, his hair is thinning, he has
medical conditions.
It is Piggy who finds the conch and suggests using it
to call the boys to meetings. With his scientific
approach to problems, Piggy is the voice of
reason.He knows that building the shelters is great
importance to the boys survival. His glasses serve
to start the fire that eventually signals to the ship
that rescues the boys.

In Chapter 5:
Ralph reflects,
"Piggy could think. He could go step by step inside
that fat head of his, only Piggy was no chief. But
Piggy, for all his ludicrous body, had brains. Ralph
was a specialist in thought now, and could
recognize thought in another’’

Piggy represents the rational side of man in "The

Lord of the Flies."
 In Chapter 2:
"His specs- use them as burning glasses!"
"Here–let me go!" His voice rose to a shriek of terror as Jack
snatched the glasses off his face. "Mind out! Give ’em back! I can
hardly see! You’ll break the conch!"

Jack couldn't care less about Piggy's eyesight; he just sees his specs
as being a useful means of starting a fire. Piggy's glasses are a
symbol of reason and intelligence, and the conch shell symbolizes
order. When Jack abruptly snatches the glasses from Piggy's face, it
represents a victory of savagery over civilization
 In Chapter 4:
“Ralph made a step forward and Jack smacked Piggy’s head. Piggy’s glasses flew off and
tinkled on the rocks. “My specs!” He went crouching and feeling over the rocks but Simon,
who got there first, found them for him. Passions beat about Simon on the mountaintop
with awful wings. ‘One side is broken.‘’

Thanks to Jack, Piggy was partially blinded and not only did it affect Piggy’s physical
capabilities, but his confidence too. The cracking of one of Piggy's lenses is highly significant
in a number of ways. But mainly, it represents the way in which the barbarism of Jack and his
tribe is now starting to gain the upper hand. They've just come back from hunting in the
jungle, carrying a large pig. Their absence has led to the fire going out, but they no longer
seem to care.They are so excited to slaughter of the pig. After an argument in which Jack
breaks Piggy's glasses, the rules-based order cherished by Ralph and Piggy starts to crumble.
What's left of civilization on the island has been partially broken, like Piggy's glasses, and it
can now only be a matter of time before it's destroyed.
 In Chapter 5:
‘’What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? What’s
grownups going to think?”
Piggy speak these words to Ralph when he sees that Ralph is not
calling the assembly and assert his authority as the leader. It
shows that Piggy is the rational voice among the children on the
island. He knows that the others are becoming wild and savages.
Therefore, he reminds Ralph of his responsibility and obligation
to children. The question of grownups is posed to remind him of
the rules and laws of society.

 In Chapter 11:
“Which is better—to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?”
Piggy, the only rationalist among the children, speaks these
words to convince Jack and his hunters. He urges them to abide
by the rule and arrange fire for their rescue. However, they are
busy hunting and painting faces. Piggy believes that he can
persuade them to abide by rules and stand by Ralph, as he is an
elected leader.
 SIMON:
He is the most mysterious
character in Lord of the Flies.
He is first introduced as a
member of Jack’s choir, and he
faints when they meet with
Ralph and Piggy. He is
described as;
 In Chapter 1:
‘’a skinny, vivid little boy, with
a glance coming up from
under a hut of straight hair
that hung down, black and
coarse’’
Simon helps Ralph with the
shelters, and even supports
Piggy when the other boys
bully him.
 Simon doesn’t speak much throughout the course of the play.However,
when he does speak, his words are prophetic and wise in ways that
make the others uncomfortable.
 In Chapter 5:
One of Simon’s most iconic phrases occurs in this part when the boys
discuss the possibility of a beast. In the midst of the chaos, Simon
steps forward and says;
“Maybe there is a beast… Maybe it’s only us.”
Here he demonstrates wisdom beyond his years; he is the only boy to
realize that the real beast lies within each of them. The others, unable
to understand Simon’s astute answer, simply respond with shouts of
“Nuts!”
 In Chapter 7:
Another instance of Simon’s prophetic nature is
found in there as he talks with Ralph, who is losing
hope of ever being rescued. Several times Simon tells
Ralph:
"All the same. You'll get back all right. I think so,
anyway."
Later we find out that Simon’s prophecy has come
true; Ralph and the others are saved, but Simon
himself is not.
LORD OF THE FLIES:
The pig's head upon a stick becomes the Lord of the Flies.
 In Chapter 8:
Simon is about to pass out from the thirst and extreme heat. He thinks
he hears the pig's head speaking to Simon.
"What are you doing out here all alone? Aren't you afraid of me?“
“There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast. . . . 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 the way they are
“I’m the Beast … You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?” As Simon
descends into a faint, the Lord of the Flies says, “We are going to have
fun on this island!” The beast warns Simon that if he tries to
interfere,Jack, Roger,Maurice, Robert, Bill, Piggy, and Ralph will “do”
him.
The pig's head is the Beast and has finally made its appearance. The
Beast warns Simon that there is no hope. "It is the Lord of the Flies,
in common terms, Beelzebub, or anarchy." The boys' savagery is
increasing. The pig's head tries to tell Simon that he is in danger.

If only Simon had listened to the Lord of the Flies, he may have
lived. Simon comes to inform the boys that he has spoken with the
Lord of the Flies (the pig's head) and he knows that the boys'
descent into savagery is the root of the problem. Also, Simon has
found the parachutist and realizes this is what the boys think is the
Beast.

When Simon comes crawling out of the jungle, the boys jump on
Simon and kill him.
ROGER:
He is the most sadistic boy on the island by the
end of the novel. He gains a reputation for his
cruelty that the boys fear, and even when the
whole island has descended into savagery, he still
stands out as an emblem of the situation's
extremity.
Roger is "uncommunicative by nature" .
In Chapter 7:
"Roger led the way straight through the castles,
kicking them over, burying the flowers,
scattering the chosen stones…he hides among
the trees and harasses children…Roger gathered
a handful of stones and began to throw them.’’

His actions speak louder than his words, and they

show how he becomes more and more
aggressive as time on the island goes on.
 In Chaprter 11:
Ralph tries to call a meeting and reorganize the boys,
but he and Piggy are met by "the storm of sound."
‘’High overhead, Roger, with a sense of deliriuous
abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever…A
huge rock strikes Piggy, sending him through the air
where he falls forty feet and lands on his back
across the square red rock in the sea.’’

Roger intends to kill Ralph like a pig, behead him, and

post his head on the stick. This horrific implication
exemplifies how Roger's sadism has grown.
 Bibliography:
• https://www.enotes.com/
• https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-
literature/
• https://www.litcharts.com/lit/lord-of-the-flies/
• https://www.gradesaver.com/lord-of-the-flies
• www.william-golding.co.uk
• www.novelguide.com
• www.brighthubeducation.com
• www.getrevising.co.uk