In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, a group of young British school boys find themselves stranded on a deserted island after their plane is shot down. Scattered throughout the island and lacking adult supervision, the boys face a challenging predicament. Two boys discover a conch shell, which soon becomes a symbol of order and civilization, influencing the boys’ survival strategies on the island. Golding provides various hints throughout the book that illustrate the conch’s symbolization of civilization and order.
When Ralph and Piggy discover the conch, they are unaware of the profound impact it will have on their survival on the island. Piggy’s warning to Ralph as he reaches for the shell sheds light on its symbolic significance: “Careful! You’ll break it.” (Patterson, Ainsley). Just like civilization, the conch is delicate and can crumble or “break” in an instant and without notice. This cautionary remark to Ralph foreshadows future events in the book. It is the first indication that the conch will play a crucial role in the story, setting the stage for another revelation.
When Piggy realizes the potential of the shell, he tells Ralph that they can use it to gather everyone and hold a meeting. Ralph agrees and starts blowing into the shell to attract other survivors. Luckily, their plan works and more boys start to join them. They gather around the conch, treating it like a centerpiece. This is another example of how the conch represents civilization and order for the boys.
The conch shell not only brings the boys together as a unified group, but also plays a significant role in their meetings. With difficulty in maintaining order and silence among everyone, the boys rely on the conch as a solution. According to SparkNotes Editors, “The shell effectively governs the boys’ meetings, for the boy who holds the shell holds the right to speak.” Instantly, the conch becomes highly influential and important to the boys, serving as a tool to both unite them and control their gatherings. This further demonstrates how the conch symbolizes civilization and order.
At first, the conch shell holds power over the boys and their actions. However, as they gradually succumb to their primal instincts, the influence of the conch shell diminishes (Gedleh, Amal). This barbaric side of the boys is revealed when they assault Ralph with rocks as he attempts to use the conch to restore order. Consequently, the boys’ society begins to crumble. Factions and rivalries emerge among them, causing a divide on the island. Similar to how Piggy earlier described the fragility of the conch, the events at this point in the story demonstrate the vulnerability of the boys’ civilization.
The final instance in the book serves as an illustration of the conch’s representation of civilization. By this point, all hope for maintaining order among the boys has been lost by the conch. They have all separated from each other and now perceive the conch simply as an object rather than a symbol of authority. Ralph’s group decides to visit Jack’s camp in order to retrieve Piggy’s glasses after they are stolen by Jack’s group. This decision leads to a significant confrontation between the two groups, during which Roger, a member of Jack’s group, pushes a rock off a ledge. As a result, the rock falls onto Piggy and the conch shell, leading to Piggy’s demise and ultimately causing destruction to the conch.
This symbolizes the ultimate downfall a civilization can experience. Savagery has overcome most of the boys, pulling them further and further away from any type of order. The last straw is drawn when this tragic event happens, destroying all hope for any type of civilization or order amongst the boys. This corresponds with how Piggy describes the conch at the beginning of the story as being fragile, just like the boys’ civilization on the island. Throughout the book, Golding has given many clues to how important the conch will be as a symbol to the boys.
The conch used to possess the ability to gather all the boys and regulate their assemblies. It became a significant item for the boys, although not for an extended period. Since the conch lost its authority in one instance, its decline commenced. Eventually, the conch, no longer revered, transforms into mere fragments after being crushed under a rock. Ultimately, Golding portrays the fragility of civilizations to the reader. From being robust and secure to feeble and ravaged, alterations in civilizations can occur suddenly and inconspicuously.
