What’s an What’s an Allegory?Allegory?

How is the Lord of the Flies an How is the Lord of the Flies an Allegory?Allegory?

AllegoryAllegory is a form of extended is a form of extended metaphormetaphor, in which objects, persons, and , in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with actions in a narrative, are equated with

the meanings that lie outside the narrative the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. The underlying meaning has moral, itself. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often and characters are often personificationspersonifications

of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or envy.envy.

Thus an allegory is a story with two Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a meanings, a literal meaning and a

symbolicsymbolic meaning meaning

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies as an as an AllegoryAllegory

Lord of the Flies is best known as an Lord of the Flies is best known as an allegory.  It is an allegory on several allegory.  It is an allegory on several levels: political, religious and levels: political, religious and psychological.  On its most basic level it is psychological.  On its most basic level it is an allegory of human society today.  The an allegory of human society today.  The novel's primary implication is that "what we novel's primary implication is that "what we have come to call civilization is at best no have come to call civilization is at best no more than skin deep."  (The New York more than skin deep."  (The New York Times Book Review)Times Book Review)

Why use allegories?Why use allegories?

Writers use allegories to illustrate abstract Writers use allegories to illustrate abstract meanings by using concrete images.  meanings by using concrete images.  Often, characters in allegories personify Often, characters in allegories personify some abstract quality.  While it is possible some abstract quality.  While it is possible to read to read Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies as allegory, the as allegory, the work is so complex that it can be read on work is so complex that it can be read on many levels.  many levels. 

The Types of Allegories in The Types of Allegories in Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

It is an allegory: It is an allegory: of  the political state of the world in the post of  the political state of the world in the post

war period; war period; as a Freudian psychological understanding of as a Freudian psychological understanding of

human kind; human kind; or as the Christian understanding of the fall of or as the Christian understanding of the fall of

humankind, among others.humankind, among others.

A Political AllegoryA Political Allegory

As a political allegory we need only to look at the As a political allegory we need only to look at the state of the world at the end of World War II. The state of the world at the end of World War II. The world was divided into two camps the free world world was divided into two camps the free world and the Soviet Union much like the camps of and the Soviet Union much like the camps of Ralph and Jack.   In addition the postwar Cold Ralph and Jack.   In addition the postwar Cold War Era suffered from fears of atomic War Era suffered from fears of atomic destruction.  destruction.  Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies shows the world at shows the world at the brink of atomic destruction.  The novel the brink of atomic destruction.  The novel serves as a warning to the leaders of the world.serves as a warning to the leaders of the world.

Psychological AllegoryPsychological Allegory As a Freudian psychological allegory the characters in As a Freudian psychological allegory the characters in

the novel personify the different aspects of the human the novel personify the different aspects of the human psyche: the id, the super ego, and the ego.   psyche: the id, the super ego, and the ego.   Jack represents the id.  This is the part of the Jack represents the id.  This is the part of the

unconscious mind that works always to gratify its own unconscious mind that works always to gratify its own impulse.   impulse.  

Piggy is the superego.  This is the part of the mind Piggy is the superego.  This is the part of the mind that seeks to control the impulsive behavior of the id. that seeks to control the impulsive behavior of the id. Piggy always reminds Ralph and the others of their Piggy always reminds Ralph and the others of their responsibilities.  responsibilities. 

Ralph is the ego. He is the conscious mind that Ralph is the ego. He is the conscious mind that mediates between the id's demand for pleasure and mediates between the id's demand for pleasure and the social pressures brought to bear by the the social pressures brought to bear by the superego.  superego.  

Religious AllegoryReligious Allegory

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies is a religious allegory of is a religious allegory of the Garden of Eden.  It was a perfect the Garden of Eden.  It was a perfect island with good food, good weather, and island with good food, good weather, and good water.  The beastie is the snake in good water.  The beastie is the snake in the Garden that lures (tricks) the others to the Garden that lures (tricks) the others to not hold up to their duty.  The parachutist not hold up to their duty.  The parachutist and Piggy represent the fall of mankind.  and Piggy represent the fall of mankind.  Jack and Ralph are very much like Cain Jack and Ralph are very much like Cain and Able. Simon is a Christ figure who and Able. Simon is a Christ figure who sacrifices himself to save them. sacrifices himself to save them.