Download Allegory in Lord of the Flies

Allegory in
The Lord of the Flies
By William Golding
Allegory within the novel
Definition of Allegory
• William Golding uses so much symbolism in
Lord of the Flies that many critics agree that it
is an allegory- a writing that has “a double
meaning”
• A story in which people, things and actions
represent an idea or generalization about life;
allegories often have a strong moral lesson.
• Often, characters in allegories personify some
abstract quality.
Types of Allegories
• Political
• Psychological
• RELIGIOUS
Political Allegory
• As a political allegory we need only to look at the
state of the world at the end of World War II. The
world was divided into two camps the free world and
the Soviet Union much like the camps of Ralph and
Jack.
Political Allegory
• In addition the postwar
Cold War Era suffered
from fears of atomic
destruction. Lord of the
Flies shows the world at
the brink of atomic
destruction. The novel
serves as a warning to the
leaders of the world.
Freud Allegory
• As a Freudian psychological
allegory the characters in the
novel personify the different
aspects of the human psyche:
the id, the super ego, and the
ego.
• the id is the set of
uncoordinated instinctual
trends; the ego is the
organized, realistic part; and
the super-ego plays the
critical and moralizing role.
Freudian Allegory
• Jack represents the “id.” This is the part of the
unconscious mind that works always to gratify
its own impulse.
Freudian Allegory
• Piggy is the “superego.” This is the part of the
mind that seeks to control the impulsive
behavior of the id. Piggy always reminds Ralph
and the others of their responsibilities.
Freudian Allegory
• Ralph is the “ego.” He is the conscious mind
that mediates between the id's demand for
pleasure and the social pressures brought to bear
by the superego.
Freudian Allegory
• The “iceberg” of Freudian psychology:
Religious Allegory
• Finally, The
Lord of the
Flies is a
religious
allegory
referencing
the garden of
Eden.
Religious Allegory
• It was a perfect
island with good
food, good
weather and
good water.
Religious Allegory
• “The Beast” is the
snake in the
garden that lures
(tricks) the others
to not hold up to
their duty.
Religious Allegory
• Jack and Ralph
are very much
like Cain and
Abel.
Religious Allegory
• Simon is a
Christ figure
who…?
Religious Allegory
• Even the title, The Lord
of the Flies is derived
from the Hebrew word
“Beezlebub” who was
the prince of devils.
Nobel Laureate T.S.
Elliot helped William
Golding select the title.
Religious Allegory
• “The
Parachutist”
(later) and Piggy
represent The Fall
of Mankind.