Allegory
English Lit: AQA GCSE Lord of the Flies, topic 5.1.1
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Allegory
Which character is only ever shown to cause distress, pain and (ultimately) death in the novel?