Lord of the Flies: Themes of Civilization

Civilization is the refinement of thought, manners, and taste in society. It has taken thousands of years for people to become civilized. If we were not, there would be much crime, violence, and hatred among people. Civilization is a common practice today, from something as simple as holding the door open for someone, to as complex as the American economy. In Golding's work, Lord of the Flies a group of young boys ages six to twelve are stranded on a deserted island, and strive to create a civilization among them, to which they use the conch as a very important part of the novel. It is the first item the boys find on the island that would come to be a daily part of their lives. The conch is throughout the book, with the first rule created, to when Simon is murdered Ralph tries to reason with the boys, and when Roger destroys the conch. In William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies, the conch represents civilization.

The conch is part of the first rule created on the island. The children declare that only the person that holds the conch will be able to speak at meetings. "Let him have the conch!" (35). This quote is shouted by Piggy when the boy with the mulberry colored birthmark attempted to say what he believed about the beastie. By making the conch required to be held by the speaker at a meeting the littluns can say what they think, without being interrupted by an older boy. From the start, the children want to have rules so it can be like they were back at home in England. "We got to have rules and obey them" (42). The boys created the rules because they want everybody to feel comfortable on the island, like they are part of their very own civilization.

Simon is murdered, and Piggy goes to Jack's camp to tell them what they have done. "Piggy held up the conch and the booing sagged a little, then came up again to strength" (179). As he is telling them he clenches onto the conch, as if he is trying to get the boys to remember what it was like when they first started out on the island. When the boys see the conch high above Piggy's head they remember what they had done in the beginning, how they were once civilized, but then the boys begin to throw stones at Piggy, reverting to their savage instincts. Jack says that they were all part of a murder, and there is nothing anybody could do about it because even Ralph and Piggy were a part of it.

Piggy goes to Jack's camp and tells them what is happening. Roger rolls a boulder onto piggy, destroying every last grip they had on civilization. Piggy is holding the conch and the boulder shatters the conch, as if it had shattered their idea of civilization. After Piggy is knocked into the water the boys chase and try all attempts to kill Ralph.

In Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies civilization is represented in the conch shell. The conch is part of the first rule on the island. It is used to reason with the boys, and is shattered, causing the kids to revert to primal instinct. The conch is there during every part of the novel. If the boys worked together and got rescued, it would have saved many lives of young children.