The Conch
- Represents order.
- Colour changes to show a loss of innocence in the boys.
- Loses its importance as the novel progresses as Jack and his ‘Tribe’ take over.
- Smashed into a thousand pieces at the end to show loss of order and civilisation.
The Beast
- The beast is different for different boys
- It is represented as the dead parachutist, snakes, the pig’s head and noises heard in the night.
- The real beast is our deep, dark primeval urges.
- The boys invent the beast as a fear for them to focus on rather than the darkness in themselves.
Glasses
- Piggy’s glasses represent intelligence and clear thinking.
- They are useful for the boys to get the fire started both to attract rescuers and for cooking the meat.
- When one lense is smashed it represents the lack of clear thinking of the others.
- The glasses are completely destroyed when Piggy dies and this is Golding’s way of representing the further fall of the boys into chaos and darkness.
Fire
- The fire has good and bad uses.
- It is useful for attracting rescue, gives warmth and can be used for cooking, but it can be very destructive as we see at the end of the novel.
- Fire is used in ritual and is the backdrop to Simon’s frantic death.
Light / Dark
- Light represents freedom and innocence.
- Darkness shows fear and uncertainty.
