A Symbol In Lord Of The Flies The symbol of fire is used throughout the entire book, Lord of the Flies. Although it is mentioned only briefly throughout, the significance of these occurrences has a strong effect on the characters, book, and the reader. The author, William Golding, uses the fire to show the status of the people on the island. The fire is first mentioned in chapter three when Ralph decides that it is needed if they wish to ever be rescued. It is again reintroduced in chapter eight when Piggy suggests that it should be moved to the beach on which they are inhabiting.
Fire is later mentioned in chapters ten and eleven as the central conflict in the book at that time. This symbol is finally mentioned in chapter twelve as it engulfs the entire island. Golding uses fire as a symbol to represent hope and commonsense. He also uses the fire as a symbol from their absence from inevitable savagery. Fire is first introduced by Ralph as a means to communicate with the outside world saying they need help and need to be rescued. He says If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain.
We must make a fire. He and Jack soon come to the realization that they have nothing to light the fire with; instantly they notice that they can use Piggys glasses. Piggy soon becomes angry and is critical of how they use and maintain it. After Jack has agreed to keeping the fire lit along with his choir boys, he ascends to the mountain. One day while a ship is seen floating by the fire is not lit.
Ralph becomes very mad at Jack even though he has caught a pig for food. The fire is a gift form Piggy to the inhabitants of the island. It represents the hope of being rescued. Later in chapter 8, after Jack has seceded from Ralphs tribe, Piggy suggests that the fire should be moved to the beach. While the fire is being built many of Ralphs followers leave to Jacks tribe. They build the fire by the bathing pool and light it when they are done. This shows Piggys commonsense because their was no point in having to go so far to keep the fire lit.
It also helps to keep Ralphs mind on something other than the bad things that have come of Jack and secession. The Ralph represents the bathing pool because he is always trying to stay clean and the bathing pool is where people go to stay clean. The Piggy represents the fire because it was his gift to the island. Putting the fire next to the bathing pool represents the close bond between Ralph and Piggy. Again in chapter 10 fire is mentioned as the major conflict between Ralph and Jack. With their tribe depleted, Ralphs followers start to lack interest in the fire and the hope of being rescued. One night while Ralphs tribe is asleep Jacks tribe comes over and steals Piggys glasses and the power to make fire.
Ralph and Piggy go to Jack and say that they would have gladly shared the fire with him, all he had to do was ask. By stealing the power to make fire Ralph has lost the power to make logical decisions and the power to lead. When Piggy says that he will share the fire he truly believes that this fact will bring the two tribes together and stop the warfare. This is proven false when Jack refuses to cooperate. The symbol of fire in this book shows the relationship of Ralph and Jack by the placement of the fire.
It also represented the hope of being rescued and as soon as Jack gained possession of it, all hope was lost for Ralph and his tribe. The fire represented commonsense to Ralph all throughout the book and when he lost it he lost the ability to make logical decisions which would have saved his life. This proves the point that the fire represents the status of the people on the island Bibliography Lord of the Flies English Essays.