Lord of the Flies: SymbolismImagine a group of young boys who have just landed on a deserted tropical island with no adults or supervision. William Golding showed in his groundbreaking novel Lord of the Flies what can happen under precisely those circumstances. In his very complicated and diverse novel Golding brings out many ideas and uses many literary devices. Above all, however, comes the symbolism of three main and important objects: the seashell, the fire and the glasses of "Piggy". Through each of these three symbols Golding shows how the boys adapt and change over the course of the novel. These symbols also help show each boy's ideals on a variety of elements, from human nature to society and its controls. All three of these symbols also change and are one of the most important elements of the story. The first symbol, which is used throughout the book, is the Conch symbol. The conch was a large conch that Piggy had first unearthed on the island. The conch displays powers throughout the book and always commands respect from the boys for its importance. The importance and power would best be compared to that of a congregation when a rabbi removes the Torah from the ark containing it. The first quote that best shows the importance of the conch is when it is used by Ralph and Piggy to summon all the boys together when they find themselves alone on the island. "The Conch, we can use it to call others. Arrange a meeting, they will come when they hear us- (16)." Then again at the second meeting we see how the kids are attracted to the Conchiglia and how it is like a magnet for the kids, which attracts them towards whoever uses it. “By the time Ralph had finished blowing the conch, the platform was crowded (32).” The shell also shows the first idea of ​​civilization and rules. An example is when there is disorder because everyone is talking at the same time. "Conch, that's the name of the conch. I will give the conch to the next person who speaks. He can hold it while he speaks (33)." Lastly, the conch is used to show how Piggy does so much to help them and gets no credit for it. It was used this way when Piggy was the first to see the conch and Piggy was the one who knew what it was and instructed Ralph how to use it.