"Piggy's specs represent intelligence and civilization, hope and security, but they also mark the boys' gradual degeneration towards savagery."
This quote from "A Literary Analysis of Lord of the Flies - the Symbolism of Piggy's Specs", shows how Piggy's glasses have great significance in the novel. His "specs" symbolize knowledge. The boys use the glasses to reflect the sunlight to start a fire, which makes the "specs" a symbol of intelligence and science. Glasses have always been associated with intelligent and wise people. Since Piggy wears the glasses, he is the most intelligent and most
adult-like boy on the island. |
Since the glasses symbolize intelligence, they also symbolize civilization. This is shown when Piggy tells Ralph to use the conch to gather the boys.The conch symbolizes order and civilization. Without Piggy, who is characterized as the most intelligent and the wisest through the wearing of his glasses, the boys would not see the conch as order and civilization.
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The glasses also symbolizes hope and security. Piggy's glasses are what the boys use to start the fire. Without the fire, there is no hope for the boys to be rescued, making Piggy's glasses the only hope of rescue. Also without the fire, the boys have no sense of comfort, making Piggy's glasses a symbol of security.
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The glasses also symbolize the boys descent into savagery. In chapter 4, during a disagreement between Jack and Piggy, Jack breaks one of the lenses of Piggy's glasses. This symbolizes how the boys have began to lose the civilized manners and have begun to descend into savagery. In chapter 10, when Jack and the other boys raid Ralph's camp, they steal Piggy's glasses. The stealing of Piggy's glasses symbolizes the complete change of power, from civilized manner to savagery.
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