Home > Lord of the Flies Summary & Study Guide > Lord of the Flies Group > Discussion Board

Golding tells us "the beast was harmless and horrible"... to Simon. Consider that 'the sign' on the mountain is a figure of man's inhumanity to man.

The death of Simon indicates that the answer to your question is no.  The beast is "harmless and horrible" to Simon because Simon is an introspective and mature boy.  The fact that he observes his surroundings so closely show that he is capable of seeing what others do not see.  However, Simon does this by going off by himself, by being quiet.  It is when he is alone in the forest that he faces the pig's head and has his epiphany:

"You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? . . . I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are what they are?"

He sees that the beast is the boys' themselves, and he runs back to tell them.  However, not having a commanding personality, Simon is not heard in the frenzy of the boys' dance.  Instead, he is trapped in it and becomes the unplanned victim.  This reinforces that man is inhumane to man and that those who can see the evil are not usually the ones who can lead others away from it.