Lord of the Flies Group

Question:

esperanzadc
esperanzadc
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is the significance of the "sign" given to Piggy and Ralph in Chapter 6 of "Lord of the Flies"?

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Posted by esperanzadc on Monday September 29, 2008 at 6:17 PM and tagged with chapter 6, lord of the flies, piggy, ralph, sign.

Answers:

  1. eabettencourt
    eabettencourt Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    Piggy and Ralph wish they could have a sign from the grown-ups. Ironically, this is just what they receive in the form of the dead parachutist, who comes to represent their ever-growing fear of the unknown. The parachutist's body is seen by Samneric, who immediately identify it as the beast. Only Simon recognizes the reality of the situation - that they need not fear the unknown so much as their own inner darkness. When he tries to warn the others about this, he is brutally killed - again mistaken for the beast. So, the sign that Piggy and Ralph asked for did actually arrive, but all the boys are so blinded by their fear and subsequent mob mentality that they cannot even see it. It is additionally ironic that the adult sign arrives as a result of war, which relates to the microcosmic/macrocosmic concepts in the novel.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/flies

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    Posted by eabettencourt on Tuesday September 30, 2008 at 1:34 PM