Open Prompt #5

1981. The meaning of some literary works is often enhanced by sustained allusion to myths, the Bible, or other works of literature. Select a literary work that makes use of such a sustained reference. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain the allusion that predominates in the work and analyze how it enhances the work's meaning.

     The nature of humanity is intimately explored in the bible. In William Golding's Lord of the Flies his character Simon is an sustained reference to Jesus Christ. His actions, especially in comparison to the other children, make his presence obvious and figures greatly into Golding's message.

     Simon is by far the most benevolent of the boys stranded upon Golding's unnamed island. He is often helping the "littluns" by finding for them "fruit they could not reach, pulled off from the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands". This is strikingly similar to Jesus when he multiplies fish and loaves of bread for his multitudes of hungry followers. While Simon is acting with the concerns of the meek in mind, Golding's other characters are focused purely on themselves. They disregard the greater good and focus on pleasure, neglecting to do things that would improve their situation. Characters like Jack, the leader of the most primordial of the boys, highlight Simon's pure heart with their reckless and juvenile behavior that endangers others and focuses on unholy activities, like the slaughter of the island's native pigs(an animal considered filthy in the old testament) or the actions that lead Simon's death. Simon also enjoys wandering into the wilderness, a trait he shares with Jesus. On one of his solo forays into the depths the island, he encounters the Lord of The Flies, or the pig head that has been stabbed and displayed by Simon's peers. He has a delusional conversation with this head, whose English name translates to Beezlebub, which often means Satan. The LOTF taunts him, but is unable to steer him from his path. At one point, he also bashes his head against his tree, causing it to bleed, which could be a reference to the crown of thorns.

     Simon's death in the story has the most significance. He is accidentally killed by the boys while they performed their tribal dance, believed to be the very beast that he came to explain. While wandering the island alone, he happened on the body of a dead airmen, parachute and all. This is immediately explained the physical side of the "beast" that inhabited the island, however, Simon never got the opportunity to explain the truth. However, the real beast, the dark side of human nature, was also conquered by Simon and the example he set. His actions serves as a blueprint for the boys, adult world(that the island represents a microcosm of), to rescue themselves from this much more dangerous beast that is human nature.However, the most important element that Simon, being a Christ figure, incorporates is hope. With his death, there is hope that individuals will recognize his message and seek to reform society in a more positive way.

     Simon in the LOTF served as a Christ figure, who's action were exceptionally benevolent and closely mirrored that of Christ. Golding utilized him too explore the darker side of human nature, but right along with his death comes the hope that society will see its faults and search for a way to better itself.