Lord of the Flies

Significance of Symbols

Hey guys, what would be the significance of the conch and the mask Jack was wearing? How does certain events contribute to the plot/story in overall, like the conch getting destroyed and Jack face-painting himself?

I basically know the conch symbolizes "civilization" and the mask symbolizes Jack's transition into savagery, but I don't get how those symbols contribute to the plot/overall novel.

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Last updated by Aslan
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The symbols contribute to the thematic relevance of the novel. They support Golding's constant juxtaposition between civilization and savagery. The plot is merely a narrative to explore themes of civilization and savagery within the human condition. The conch represents a learned way to keep order whereas the mask is a way to subvert any order that has been learned.

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