Tuesday Wite #7

In the book “The Lord of The Flies”, Piggy’s specs represent true power. The glasses were used to light the signal fire alongside every other fire, and fire is generally a symbol for power over those without fire. When the boys are trying to light a signal fire to signal a ship, the following takes place, “His voice rose to a shriek of terror as Jack snatched the glasses off his face, ‘mind out! Give ‘em back! I can hardly see!’” (40) Throughout the book, Power (or at least the potential for power) is taken from Piggy. Later in that scene, the kids used his specs to light the fire, but also marks the first time that power is forcibly taken from the individual with intelligence by the power-hungry Jack. Later in the book, Jack and his boys stage a raid on Ralph’s camp, taking the specs and injuring Sam, Eric, Piggy and Ralph. After this, Golding describes Jack as “...A chief now in truth… From his left hand

dangled Piggy’s broken glasses.” (168). During the entire book, Jack is always searching for power over his fellow man. This moment represents the point when Ralph and Co. are rendered powerless, they can no longer create fire, and the voice of reason: Piggy is rendered handicapped, and Jack takes over. It can be argued that the conch represents the power on the island. However Jack’s party tends to ignore the power of the conch whenever Ralph tries to use it. The Conch represents order, for as long as it was on the island, there has been some kind of order, but the moment when the conch is shattered and piggy is killed is the moment that the island resorts to savagery.

Piggy’s specs are always being taken from him, disallowing him from having any power in the group, and Jack is always the one taking his glasses from him. Since Jack is represented as a power-hungry individual, and always going after Piggy’s specs, and Piggy has no power without his specs, it can be deduced that Piggy’s specs represent true power on the island.