5.1.1

Allegory

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Allegory

An allegory is a type of story where the lessons the author wants to teach readers are taught by using characters to represent key human and societal characteristics.

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Allegory

  • Each character represents an aspect of human society.
    • The story is an allegory.
  • An allegory a type of story where the lessons the author wants to teach readers are taught by using characters to represent key human and societal characteristics.
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Ralph

  • Ralph represents civilisation and order.
  • However, he also shows that evil exists within everyone.
    • He loses his sense of civility and becomes more savage at the feast when Simon is killed.
  • Golding uses him to show that all humans have evil and savagery buried within them, trying to get out.
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Piggy

  • Piggy represents intelligence, the positive influence of civilisation, science, logic, and maturity.
  • He wears glasses, teaches Ralph how to blow on the conch shell, and makes logical, sensible decisions.
  • When he is killed, it symbolises the complete destruction of civility and common sense on the island.
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Jack

  • Jack represents wildness and violence.
  • He illustrates the dangers of allowing a dictator to take control, and warns against following anyone who enjoys causing harm to others.
  • Jack shows how the natural savage nature of humanity can easily escape and grow, with horrific consequences.
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Roger

  • Roger is symbolic of pure evil in the world.
  • He is only ever shown to cause distress, pain and (ultimately) death in the novel.
  • He enjoys causing fear and is happy to follow Jack once Jack’s savage nature takes hold.
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Simon

  • Simon represents goodness, morality and innocence.
  • He sees through the fear of the “beast” and understands the true nature of humanity.
  • Ultimately, his death shows how fragile the good side of humanity is.

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