Lord of the Flies - Simon Christ

A reoccurring theme in many novels is that of nature vs. nurture, the question whether humans are naturally evil or are disfigured through society. Science has proven that genes are passed down from generation to generation, such as traits regarding hair or eye color. Though, a heated discussion that carries on to this day is what exactly determines a persons behavioral traits. Two main ideas have formed from this discussion- one stating that these traits are, too, determined by genes; well others argue that these traits are learned from the person's environment. The concept of what exactly is human nature is something that will probably be argued for years and years to come. William Golding's novel, The Lord of the Flies, is but one response to the question, "What is human nature"? The sickening sights and absolute destructiveness of World War II, became a huge influence for the writing of this novel. In William Golding's, Lord of the Flies, Golding uses symbolism, characterization and allusion to create a Christ-like figure in the character Simon.

William Golding uses is the Christ-like figure known as Simon. Simon "was a skinny, vivid little boy, with a glance coming up from under a hut of straight hair that hung down, black and coarse" (24). Simon, much like another character known as Piggy, is constantly seeking to help people, never acting selfishly or cruelly to any of the other boys on the island. For example Simon picks up Piggy's glasses when they get knocked off, tries to comfort the "littluns" when they are worried by the beast and even tries to comfort the groups "leader" Ralph when the groups fire signal goes out. He is also a character that is not disillusioned by the fear the spreads through the island. For example the symbol of the dead parachutist for represents children who are blinded by their own innate evil do not see the parachutist as it really is, but rather as a savage beast on top of the mountain. Simon, the only boy who is not blinded and deceived by inner evil, is the only one who sees the parachutist as it is and not as a beast.

Golding purposely continues to makes many allusions to Christ through several of Simon's actions. One example being when he sees the littluns struggling to get the fruit from a tree, "Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands" (56). Another instance is when the character Jack does not allow Piggy to eat the meat that he and his "hunters" killed. Similar to when Christ passed out bread to mass, Simon gives his meat to piggy. But not only does Simon give his meat to Piggy, but he also refrains from eating the meat because he feels the hunt for food is just a façade for their bloodlust and thirst for killing. Simon does not want to have anything to do with the killing and evil that is happening on the island among the boys.

There are various symbols related to Simon that have religious meaning, one for example in his ability to speak with the Lord of the Flies. While in his special clearing, where Simon often goes to escape from the chaos ensuing around the island, he is able to communicate with the Lord of the Flies, which is in actuality the dead pig's head. In this "spiritual revelation", The Lord of the Flies "tells" him:"Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill . . . You knew didn't you? I'm part of you? . . .Get back to the others and we'll forget the whole thing . . .". Here we and as well as Simon learns that the so called "beast" that has been terrifying the children is actually the evil that resides within them all. And just like Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil, Simon was tempted by the Lord of the Flies, a direct translation to Beelzebub, a fallen angel, to not go on with his righteous duty and keep the information to himself.

This spiritual revelation powers Simon to investigate the "beast" at the top of the mountain commenting that, "The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible creating one the last and most important allusion made by the author, the almost Christ-like sacrifice made by Simon. After discovering what the beast truly is, Simon being the character that he is, feels the need to let the others know so they too can be comforted. Seemingly mistaken for the "beast" coming down