3.1.5
Simon
Simon
Simon
Simon is introduced as a strange character. He faints a lot and is isolated from the others. He does not fear the beast, but realises that the beast exists only within the boys.
Character
Character
- Simon is considered very odd by the other boys.
- They describe him as “batty” “funny” “queer” because they do not really understand him.
Support
Support
- Simon constantly supports Ralph and helps him to build shelters and do the right thing.
- He even tells Ralph to “Go on being chief” when Ralph begins to question his suitability.
Solitude
Solitude
- Simon goes off into the jungle to be on his own.
- He is the only boy to seek out solitude on the island, so this action separates him from the other characters:
- “He turned his back on this and walked into the forest with an air of purpose”.
The beast within
The beast within
- Simon is the only one of the boys who really understands what is happening on the island.
- There is no physical beast, but that all of the boys have “beasts” within them.
- It is their own actions which are causing them to descend further into evil and darkness: “Maybe it’s only us”.
Simon cont.
Simon cont.
Symbolically, Simon is often compared with a Christian prophet or saint. He is one of the first boys to be killed at the hands of the others. His death shows the first big slide into savagery.
Physical weakness
Physical weakness
- Whilst Simon seems mentally and intellectually strong, his body is weak.
- He was “always throwing a faint”.
Saintly
Saintly
- Symbolically, Simon is often compared with a Christian prophet or saint.
- He is the one who confronts the Lord of the Flies (a product of Jack’s evil nature) and who tries to bring the truth back to the other boys, but is murdered in the process:
- “The beast was harmless and horrible, and the news must reach the others as soon as possible”.
Death
Death
- The Lord of the Flies itself warned Simon that he would be killed if he revealed the truth, but he chose to risk it anyway because he saw it as a moral duty to tell the truth.
- Simon’s death is caused by the evil nature he was attempting to warn the boys about.
Immortalisation
Immortalisation
- After he dies, he is described as: “The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculpted marble”.
- This could link him to a religious figure who is immortalised as a statue after death.
Murder
Murder
- Simon is one of the first boys to be killed at the hands of the others.
- His death shows the first big slide into savagery.
- He was innocent, only trying to warn the boys about danger, and was killed in cold blood.
- His death illustrates just how far the boys have sunk into evil.
- They do not even recognise him as a human but kill him in the middle of their crazed chanting and dancing.
Summary of Simon
Summary of Simon
- Simon is strange and vulnerable.
- He is innately good and moralistic.
- He is the only boy who wants to spend time on his own.
- He hallucinates that the Lord of the Flies is talking to him.
- He discovers the parachutist at the top of the mountain.
- He is killed by the other boys, who think he is a wild pig.
1Context
2Story Analysis
2.2Chapter 2
2.3Chapter 3
2.4Chapter 4
2.6Chapter 6
2.7Chapter 7
2.9Chapter 9
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
3Key Characters
4Key Concepts
5Writing Techniques
Jump to other topics
1Context
2Story Analysis
2.2Chapter 2
2.3Chapter 3
2.4Chapter 4
2.6Chapter 6
2.7Chapter 7
2.9Chapter 9
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
3Key Characters
4Key Concepts
5Writing Techniques
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