Lord of the Flies: Simon Character Analysis

Overview

• Simon is depicted as the epitome of goodness and morality among the boys on the island.
• His death represents a defeat of human goodness by innate savagery.

Importance of Simon

• Kind and Cooperative:

  • Represents altruism on the island, helping others selflessly.
  • Helps littluns by picking fruit and contributes to building shelters.
  • Stands up for Piggy against other boys' teasing.

• Perceptive:

  • Appreciates the beauty around him, noticing things like flowers that others destroy.
  • Realizes there is no physical beast on the island, suggesting the beast is within the boys.

• Christ-like Victim:

  • Climbs a mountain to discover the "beast" is a corpse.
  • Attempts to convey this truth to the others despite being ostracized, leading to his tragic death.

Simon's Language and Symbolism

• Prophetic Language:

  • Simon understands the true nature of the beast, indicating it is part of the boys themselves.
  • Foretells Ralph's safety with "You'll get back alright."

• Religious Imagery:

  • Seen in a prophetic light when handing out fruit, likened to a prophet.
  • After his death, nature appears to mourn; his body is described with glowing imagery.

Key Quotes

• The language used in relation to Simon often conveys deeper meanings and has religious connotations.

Simon's Character Development

• Chapters 1-4:

  • Introduced as kind but isolated, supporting Ralph’s rules and helping others.
  • Finds solace in a peaceful jungle glade.

• Chapters 5-8:

  • Demonstrates bravery by joining Ralph and Jack to hunt the beast.
  • Encounters the Lord of the Flies and realizes the beast is internal.

• Chapters 9-12:

  • Attempts to warn others about the true nature of the beast, leading to his murder.
  • Only Ralph later acknowledges his role in Simon's death, recalling Simon’s insight.

Character Interpretation

Morality and Christianity

• Simon's physical weaknesses (e.g., fainting) set him apart from the others.
• Despite his goodness, he is seen as "queer" and does not influence others to follow his example.
• His selfless actions and ultimate sacrifice have Christ-like parallels.
• Golding suggests through Simon's murder that human savagery overpowers moral and religious codes.

Simon is a crucial character in 'Lord of the Flies,' embodying the novel's themes of innate human savagery and moral downfall, marked by his tragic demise.