Piggy
English Lit: AQA GCSE Lord of the Flies, topic 3.1.2
Piggy
Piggy is different. He portrays certain vulnerabilities and differences which the other boys single him out for. He is overweight, asthmatic, wears glasses and is lower-class.
Piggy's loyalty
- Piggy is the first boy to meet Ralph.
- He remains loyal to Ralph, and his decisions, right up until the moment he, himself, is killed.
Piggy's ideas
- It is Piggy who comes up with many of the best ideas on the island – such as using the conch shell to call meetings.
- He also supports all of the ideas that Ralph has, trusting in him because he is the democratically-elected chief: “The smoke’s a signal and we can’t be rescued if we don’t have smoke.”
Remaining civilised
- Unlike the other boys, Piggy remains civilised; he does not become wild and uncontrollable.
- “He was the only boy on the island whose hair never seemed to grow”.
- The fact that his hair seems to stay short and he appears well-groomed shows that Piggy remains somewhat civilised.
Rules, law and order
- Piggy believes in rules, law and order.
- “I thought they wanted the conch.”
- When Jack attacks Ralph’s camp, Piggy naturally assumes that he has come to steal the conch.
- Piggy’s first idea is that Jack has come to steal control and authority.
- He thinks that the conch (law and order) is the most valuable thing on the island.
Remaining calm
- When Ralph gets a bit overwhelmed, it is Piggy who brings him back to earth and reminds him of their purpose and aim:
- “Ralph – remember what we came for. The fire. My specs.”
Piggy cont.
Like Ralph, although Piggy resists the temptation of falling completely into savagery, Golding uses him to show that even the best people have evil within them.
Intelligence
- Although Piggy is intelligent and wise, the boys overlook this because he physically stands out as being different, weak and vulnerable.
- Golding uses Piggy to show how some people treat those who are different to them.
- Instead of applauding his good ideas, Jack and his tribe make fun of Piggy’s physical differences, ultimately killing him because they have taken a disliking to him.
Savagery
- Like Ralph, although Piggy resists the temptation of falling completely into savagery, Golding uses him to show that even the best people have evil within them.
- At the feast, where Simon is killed, he also takes part in the crazed dancing and killing of the “pig”.
Just "an accident –"
- However, unlike Ralph, Piggy cannot admit to himself what he did.
- This could be because it goes against his idea of morality, so he cannot accept that he fell into this savagery and killed another person.
- Piggy tries to convince himself that Simon’s death was just "an accident –"
The beast
- Piggy is the one who suggests that they should be afraid of the people on the island: “I know there isn't no beast—not with claws and all that I mean—but I know there isn't no fear either."
- "Unless we get frightened of people."
Piggy's death
- When Roger kills Piggy, he is symbolically using violence and evil to put an end to intelligence and logic.
- Golding uses this event to show the vulnerability of civility in society.
- Although we could argue that Simon’s death is caused by irrationality and is a spur-of-the-moment mistake, Piggy’s murder was deliberate and calculated – it symbolises the moment when the other boys descend completely into savagery.
Summary of Piggy
- He supports Ralph.
- He suggests that the conch is used to call meetings.
- He says that the biggest threat on the island is “people”.
- He is killed by a giant boulder, which Roger releases.
Test yourself on Piggy
Who does Piggy remain loyal to until his death?
What does Piggy think is the most valuable thing on the island?
What does Piggy believe in?
What does Piggy say is the biggest threat on the island?