Lord Of The Flies

8 Pages 1932 Words

order, organization, and authority, and is used to call meetings, regulate meetings, and its destruction coincides with the collapse of a political society. The conch was a simple shell when Piggy and Ralph found it, but later became a sign of authority when its function was discovered. As their society began to evolve, the boys started to become more organized. From the first call for a meeting by the conch, “Ralph grasped the idea and hit the shell with air from his diaphragm. Immediately the thing sounded. A deep, harsh not boomed under the palms, spread through the intricacies of the forest and echoed back from the pink granite of the mountain.” (LotF 12), rules were laid down. One rule in particular served to allow an easy way of expressing one’s opinion; whoever held the conch, had the right to speak. “‘And another thing. We can’t have everybody talking at once, We’ll have to have “Hands up” like at school ... Then I’ll give him the conch ... I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.’” (LotF 31). This rule worked quite well in the early stages of the development of their civilization, but as the power hungry Jack sought to instate his dictatorship style of governing, he began to disregard it. As a result of his actions, the boys split into two groups: Ralph’s democracy, and Jack’s dictatorship. In a futile attempt to make peace with J...