Objective: To explore, analyse and criticise the links between LOTF and The Bible
Task:
As a comment on this post, write at least one paragraph in answer to the question:
What does the reader learn from Golding's portrayal of the character Simon?
Ensure that you:
- Include both similarities and differences to The Bible
- Link your analysis to what we learn about human nature
One thing the reader can learn from Golding's portrayal of Simon is that human kind is innately evil:
ReplyDelete"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."
This implies that the character of Simon is a generous and selfless character. This is shown by Golding's use of 'found for them' which cleaerly shows the reader it was not for his satisfaction but the needs of the "little'uns". Also he is presented as a Jesus like character due to Golding's use of 'endless, outstretched hands" which relates to Jesus feeding the 5000. Which, one can infer as a sign of goodness. On the other hand, the momemnt when Simon pulls off the fruit from the tree could be seen as the breaking of goodness, nature and purity of the island: as in the Bible when eve pulls the apple from the tree. This is ver significant as it shows that even though we see Simon as a symbol of belief for the better,innate good and purity he is also the symbol for the innate evil within all human kind, which we cannot escape and might give in to subconciously(what Simon does).Through this portrayal of Simon, Golding presents the innate evil and subconcious doings of human kind.
Throught the novel, Golding displays Simon as having an ability to percieve and have a understanding of the main theme.
ReplyDelete"Page 111: Simon became inarticulate in his efforts to express mankind's essential illness."
This implies the character Simon is clearly aware of the problem plaguing the boys in the island. However unlike his biblical duo, Jesus, Simon is unable to explain to his flock the innate evil of mankind. The word "inarticulate" shows how the "illness" he is try to cure by explanation escapes him, rendering him unable to express to others the truth. Instead he can do nothing but sit back and watch as the boys grow savage through fear.
One thing that the reader can learn from Golding's portrayal of Simon is that the innate cruelty of mankind prohibits the voice of reason from speaking the much needed truth:
ReplyDelete"Simon became inarticulate in his effort to express mankind's essential illness."
Due to mankind's inability to embrace beliefs that they don't necessarily believe in, they react by shunning those who are different. Golding creates the character of Simon to have direct links to Jesus but makes him the embodied affect of mankind's ignorance. The word "inarticulate" shows that the biblical figure of Simon loses his fundamental ability to speak his opinion and ultimately stop him from informing the others of "mankind's essential illness". This comes as a direct product of mankind's obtuseness towards those with different ideas irrespective of their validity.
Through Golding's portrayal of Simon, the reader learns that human kind is innately evil:
ReplyDelete"Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed down to the endless, outstretched hands"
Here, Golding has portrayed Simon as the Jesus like figure through his selfless gesture of collecting fruit to provide the less about (the littluns) with food. There is direct biblical parallels between this and Jesus feeding the 5,000 as well as other places within the novel. The phrase "fruit they could not reach.." shows the reader that Simon is using his abilties for others' benefit unlike any of the other boys on the island whom are more swayed by the forestation of savagery within them. Golding is using Simon to imply that with the addition of a savage environment, man's selfish and savage insticts become prominant and actions of helping the less fortunate becoming less likely to occur. However, unlike Jesus,
Simon is a mere mortal therefore splitting the similarity between the two. Golding says Simon is providing for "endless, outstretched hands" then almost drawing back the comparison as although Simon doesn't have the powers to perform miracles and supply "endless" amounts of food to the "endless" hands, his small gesture of selflessness seems to have that effect. This emphasises the idea of human kind being innately evil with the ebundence on savagery.
"They talked, cried out unintelligibly, lugged him towards the trees."
ReplyDeleteOn one hand we see Golding displays Simon similarly to Jesus in the way we see him interact with the children. They are described as talking "unintelligibly". This may symbolise how unintelligent and ignorant people were before Jesus spread the word of the Lord.What's more it shows how Simon, as Jesus, did not judge peopel's beliefs and still helped them all.
In chapter 3 of Lord Of The Flies, Golding portrays Simon as someone who is selffless by helping others from innate goodness.
ReplyDelete"Simon found for them the fruit they could not rech, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands."
From this quote the reader acknowledges Simon's kind doing as he passes fruit to the littluns as they arent able to reach it. The word "choiciest" implies that Simons actions are out of pure kindness as he chooses the finest piece of fruit which shows that he innately cares about others and he puts them before himself. Simons kind doing is similar to when Jesus fed 5000. However Simon supplies enought to each littlun as he can not work miracles like Jesus, as he feeds 5000, because Simon is a normal human being.
ReplyDeleteIn lord f the files Gold presents Simon to have traits Jesus like characteristics. Simon is portrayed to be the voice of faith, believe and over trying temptation similarly like Jesus when faced with evil. However Golding shows them to be different as Jesus death was to save us from original sin and to show there is hope for mankind. Whereas, Golding shows that we are all born with evil and we can’t change or be saved because there is no saving us. (the fall of mankind)
What does the reader learn from Golding's portrayal of the character Simon?
ReplyDeleteFrom how Goldings portrays the character of Simon within the novel of ‘’The Lord Of The Flies’’ shows some parallels to bible and mythology.
From the onset of meeting Simon within the first chapter the reader learns that all though he can be considered as weaker than the other characters in physical strength he is on some level above them all:
‘’Simon looked at them both, saying nothing but nodding till his black hair flopped backwards and forwards: his face was glowing.’’
This implies that Simon is somewhat a very important and powerful character which can be seen from the words ‘’his face was glowing’’ suggesting to the readers that Simon is a rather ethereal kind of person possessing some magical, heavenly and godly aura around him.
Golding portrays Simon as an inately good character with pure intentions through his interactions with the other characters on the bewildered island.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Golding has given Simon such a selfless personality may make the reader interpret Simon as the 'Jesus' on the island - the one who can lead without aggression and save the other boys from evil and savagary by sharing his knowledge with them. We see Simon
in
What does the reader learn from Golding's portrayal of the character Simon?
ReplyDeleteDuring chapter eight, the character Simon is presented by William Golding as one of truth:
“The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible.”
Through the character’s desperation to inform the other boys of the truth, a biblical parallel is established. The major figure in the Bible, Jesus Christ, was considered to be a Messiah who attempted to spread the word of God and, although Simon’s word is fairly contrasting, this scene is undeniably corresponding. Furthermore, the dissimilarity of “harmless” and “horrible” are indicative of Simon’s (unusually) irrationality at the prospect of quickly distributing the idea that evil is inherent and emphasise the truth he now harbours. Again, another parallel, this time of the cruxification of the same figure, is highlighted through the death of Simon in the succeeding chapter where “Simon’s dead body” is horrifically described.
(P.S. This is unfinished.)
Golding portray's Simon as a very symboblic character because of the part he plays in Lord of the flies.
ReplyDeleteThe reader understands that Simon symbolises knowledge and wisdom the same way Jesus did. When Simon discovers that the bestie is actually a dead man with a parachute on he hurries to go and inform the rest of the boys he is then killed and washed away into the shore. The same thing happened to Jesus, he was crucified for telling the truth that would set everyone free and when he was hung on the cross he died to wash away everyone's sins. Golding's trying to say that Humans are born with innate sin due to our ancestors Adam and Eve.
Within the novel Golding portrays Simon as an extremely influential and important character:
ReplyDelete"...and in front of Simon, the Lord of the Flies hung on his stick and grinned. At last Simon gave up and looked back... his gaze was held by that ancient, inescapable recognition."
The fact that Golding only reference to the Lord of the Flies in the text is when Simon is said to be in the scene. Shows his importance as only Simon is present whenever the Lord of the Flies is present. As well as this, as Simon seems to have finally given up("gave up") suggests his persistence of finding humanity in man. Also as Simon gazes "back" this is similar to the biblical reference of Jesus when he looked back at the blinded-people that knew no better. Additionally, as he holds his gaze this suggests that Simon is in a trance of the terror and innate evil that is in "man's heart". Quintessential, as Simon realises the norms of society and the presence of this inert evil within "man's heart" implies the wisdom and increased advantage of knowledge Simon has amongst the other children. Thus, Golding presents Simon as character of great wisdom and trepidation faith in humanity.