In Lord of the Flies, the story is set on an island, which is significant to the plot. The island’s isolation symbolizes the characters’ disconnection from civilization. They are now left with only the untamed wilderness and their innate human nature, which Gilding portrays as stemming from “original sin.” Stripped of the influences of civilization and democracy, the societal values once imposed on them quickly fade away, exposing their true nature.
In the story, there are four main settings that are emphasized: The Mountain, the Beach, Castle Rock, and the forest Simon visited at the beginning of the book. Each of these settings has a unique significance to the story. The mountain serves as a viewing point from the outside world and is the highest point on the island. The characters put the fire on top of the mountain to send out a signal in hopes of being saved. The mountain is considered a sacred place and holding the fire is of utmost importance. It takes a while to reach the mountain, which becomes significant when they see smoke from another boat in the distance. This leads to them being stranded as they couldn’t reach the fire in time to reignite it.The mountain is seized by the beast, turning it into a terrifying location. The once hopeful place transforms into a source of fear for all the boys. One of the boys suggests staying there, hoping that the beast will not approach them. This development pushes the plot forward as they are unable to maintain a fire on the mountain, creating the problem of not being able to attract enough attention to be rescued from the island.
The Beach in the book symbolizes discipline, order, and civilization. It is the only place that maintains civilization until the end. The conch, representative of democracy and civilization, was discovered by Piggy on the beach, emphasizing its association with these ideals. Moreover, the beach serves as a home for the children before their descent into savagery. This is agreed upon by both Ralph and Jack.
While constructing the shelters on the beach, the individuals express the need for them as a form of “home.” They decide to build the shelters on the beach because they perceive it as the safest place, symbolizing civilization on the island. Even Jack, who single-handedly introduces chaos to the island, instinctively recognizes the significance of the beach. During meetings held on the beach, Jack adheres to the rule that only the person holding the conch has the privilege to speak. Although he occasionally shouts out, he promptly quiets down when instructed by Ralph.
Even when he attempted to seize control, he abided by the rule of the conch. “He cautiously placed the conch in the grass by his feet.” One important point to consider is the beach, as a symbol of civilization, directly contrasts with the Castle Rock, which symbolizes disorder. Ralph and Piggy, the only individuals who remain civilized and rational until the end of the story, consistently remain on the beach. Jack, the instigator of chaos, initiates it on the Castle Rock. The beach is also where the boys are ultimately rescued and saved from the destructive fire, and where the naval officer emerges.
The forest Simon enters undergoes a gradual transformation from brightness to darkness, symbolized by the setting sun. This change foretells the loss of order and civility among the children. Initially, the forest is described as vibrant and filled with the scent of ripeness, with fruit and flowers growing together. However, as Simon continues walking, the jungle becomes denser and unexpected pale flowers appear on tall trunks. The slope of honey-colored sunlight decreases, leading to the thickening darkness under the trees. Eventually, only darkness remains, submerging the paths between the trees like the bottom of the sea. This absence of light may also hint at the disappearance of nurture that civilization provided. This connection is reinforced by comparing the children to trees in terms of their metaphorical transformation into darkness.
At the end of the book, the children undergo a transformation that renders them unrecognizable compared to their initial arrival on the island as orderly and civilized British children. On page 58, Simon discovers a fallen tree in a sunlit clearing. The fallen tree leans against the still standing trees, symbolizing two possible interpretations. Firstly, considering the trees as representations of the children, if we assume the “great” tree symbolizes Ralph as the leader, this foreshadows Ralph’s eventual loss of control over the children.
Although supported by other trees at the moment, the eventual downfall of the great tree is inevitable. Similarly, the tree symbolizes the fragile state of the attempted civilization or democracy among the children on the island, foretelling its ultimate failure. Simony’s character as an outsider is shaped by the receptive nature of the forest. Additionally, Simon takes refuge in a makeshift shelter made of leaves, shielded from the fading civility among the children represented by the setting sun. This foreshadows that he will never succumb to savagery like the rest of the boys.
Castle Rock is intimidating with its closed and easily dependable entrance. This may explain why it is the last place they explore and the first place they search for the beast. The jagged edges and hardness of Castle Rock perfectly align with Jack’s personality as the hunter, making it an ideal stronghold for him and his crew. Having their own stronghold gives the hunters the confidence to capture and torture Sam and Eric, ultimately coercing them to become hunters as well. When Piggy, Ralph, and the twins go up to Castle Rock to retrieve Piggy’s glasses, it signifies the final blows to civilization. The hunters had already taken Piggy’s glasses from him at the beach, and now they prepare to remove the last symbol of order—the conch. Roger pushes a rock off the cliff, killing Piggy and smashing the conch on the rocks below, effectively silencing both Piggy and the conch, significant sources of reason. This ends any semblance of peace between the hunters and Ralph, prompting them to throw their spears to kill.
