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Literary works often incorporate references to various religions to enrich the narrative and provide deeper insights into the characters and situations. In William Golding's novel, "The Lord of the Flies," biblical allusions play a significant role in enhancing the reader's perspective on the story. Notably, the character Simon serves as a Christ figure, while the Beast represents the embodiment of evil, akin to the Devil. This essay delves into how these biblical allusions are woven into the narrative, shedding light on the characters and their experiences.
Throughout the novel, Simon emerges as a character with distinct Christ-like qualities.
One notable instance is when he selflessly assists a group of small children in reaching fruit hanging from high branches:
"They talked, cried out unintelligibly, lugged him toward the trees. Then, amid the roar of the bees in the afternoon sunlight, Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back to the endless outstretched hands." (56)
This scene mirrors the biblical account of Christ multiplying loaves and fishes to feed the hungry, demonstrating Simon's compassionate and nurturing nature.
Furthermore, Simon's spiritual journey becomes evident as he starts having premonitions about the Beast, a symbol of evil on the island:
"Simon . . . felt a flicker of incredulity a beast with claws that scratched, that sat on a mountain-top, that left no tracks and yet was not fast enough to catch Samneric. However Simon thought of the beast, there rose before his inward sight the picture of a human at once heroic and sick." (103)
Simon's ability to foresee the manifestations of the Beast mirrors Christ's prophetic nature in the Bible, where he predicts the works of evil.
As Simon grapples with these premonitions, he turns to meditation, a practice reminiscent of Christ's solitude and reflection in nature.
Simon's meditation allows him to sense that something is amiss, leading him to investigate an offering made to the Beast, which involves a mutilated pig. As he carefully observes the flies swarming around the pig's entrails and its decapitated head, he experiences a direct encounter with the Beast:
"\"There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And I'm the Beast.\" . . . \"This has gone quite far enough. My poor, misguided child, do you think you know better than I do?\" There was a pause. \"I'm warning you. I'm going to get angry. D'you see? You're not wanted. Understand? We are going to have fun on this island. Understand? We are going to have fun on this island! So don't try it on, my poor misguided boy, or else . . .\"" (143-144)
The Beast's temptation and threats directed at Simon parallel the Devil's temptation of Jesus in the desert. Simon's resistance weakens, and he eventually loses consciousness, setting the stage for a profound encounter.
Simon's ultimate act of sacrifice bears a striking resemblance to Christ's crucifixion and the subsequent salvation of humanity. As Simon ventures into the forest to confront the Beast, he encounters a frenzied group of boys engaged in a ritualistic dance, chanting and raving madly. Simon attempts to communicate with them, but his efforts are met with violence:
"A thing was crawling out of the forest. . . . The shrill scream that rose before the beast was like a pain. The beast stumbled into the horseshoe. 'Kill the beast! Cut its throat! Spill its blood!' . . . Simon was crying out something about a dead man on a hill. . . . The beast was on its knees in the center [of the circle], its arms over its face. . . . The beast struggled forward, broke the ring and fell over the steep edge of rock to the sand by the water. At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leaped onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words, and no movement but the tearing of teeth and claws." (152-153)
Simon's attempt to reveal the truth about the Beast to his fellow survivors is met with a violent response. In their frenzied state, the boys mistake Simon for the Beast itself, and the ensuing chaos leads to his brutal death. This tragic event serves as a powerful allegory of the sacrifice made by Christ for the redemption of humanity.
Following Simon's death, the narrative describes the aftermath:
"The parachute filled and moved; the figure slid, rose to its feet, spun, swayed down through a vastness of wet air, and trod with ungainly feet on the tops of the high trees falling, still falling, it sank toward the beach and the boys rushed screaming into the darkness. The parachute took the figure forward, furrowing the lagoon, and bumped it over the reef and out to sea." (153)
This description of the figure, which symbolizes Simon, evokes the imagery of ascension, similar to Christ's ascension into heaven following his resurrection. The figure's journey from the forest to the beach parallels the notion of descending into the unknown, mirroring Christ's descent into the underworld.
As the tide rises and envelops Simon's lifeless body, a transformation occurs:
"The tide swelled over the rain-pitted sand and smoothed everything with a layer of silver. Now it touched the first of the stains that seeped from the broken body and the creatures made a moving patch of light as they gathered at the edge. The water rose farther and dressed Simon's coarse hair with brightness. The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculptured marble. The strange attendant creatures, with their fiery eyes and trailing vapors, busied themselves around his head. The body lifted a fraction of an inch from the sand . . . Then it turned gently in the water." (154)
Just as God raised Christ into heaven, the rising tide elevates Simon's body, and the creatures surrounding him create an ethereal aura, reminiscent of the halo often depicted in religious art. This transformation signifies Simon's spiritual ascent, mirroring Christ's ascension into heaven.
In conclusion, William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies" skillfully employs biblical allusions to enrich the narrative and provide profound insights into the characters and their experiences. Simon's portrayal as a Christ figure, marked by acts of compassion, prophetic visions, and selfless sacrifice, serves as a compelling parallel to the biblical narrative of Jesus Christ. His ultimate transformation and ascent following his death further emphasize the religious undertones in the novel.
By weaving these biblical allusions into the story, Golding enhances the reader's understanding of the characters' struggles with good and evil in the face of isolation and chaos. These references not only contribute to the thematic depth of the novel but also offer a thought-provoking exploration of human nature and morality in the absence of societal norms.
Overall, "The Lord of the Flies" stands as a testament to the enduring power of biblical symbolism in literature, shedding light on universal themes and truths that continue to resonate with readers.
Biblical Allusions in "The Lord of the Flies" by William Golding. (2020, Jun 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/lord-of-the-flies-4-2-new-essay
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