he novel “Lord of the Flies”. [2020, 2016] ✪✪✪
William Golding (1911–1993), in his novel “Lord of the Flies” (1954), uses the title as a powerful symbol of evil and corruption in human nature. The title refers to the pig’s head on a stick, which becomes the “Lord of the Flies.” It represents the dark and savage side that exists within all humans. Golding uses this symbol to show that the real danger lies not outside but inside man himself—the beast of cruelty, fear, and moral decay.
Biblical and Symbolic Meaning: The title “Lord of the Flies” translates to “Beelzebub,” another name for the Devil in the Bible. This suggests that the novel is about the presence of evil in human hearts. The pig’s head covered with flies becomes a clear image of corruption and decay. When the head speaks to Simon, it says,
“I’m part of you… I’m the Beast.”
Golding’s message is that evil is not an outside force but an inseparable part of human nature itself. Thus, the title perfectly expresses the theme.
The Pig’s Head as a Symbol: The pig’s head, placed on a stick as an offering to the imaginary beast, becomes the physical “Lord of the Flies.” It is a gift to the beast, but in truth, it becomes the beast itself. The decaying head attracts flies. It shows how death gives birth to corruption. It represents moral sickness and the boys’ fall into savagery. The head tells Simon,
“Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!”
Golding uses this shocking symbol to reveal man’s inner evil.
Simon’s Vision and Realization: Simon’s meeting with the Lord of the Flies gives the title its deepest meaning. He realizes that the beast is not an animal but human wickedness. The voice of the pig’s head says,
“You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?”
Simon’s discovery is the novel’s moral truth—that evil lives inside everyone. The other boys, lost in fear, kill Simon without understanding his message. Golding uses this tragedy to prove that man’s inner darkness is the real Lord of the Flies that destroys innocence.
Representation of Savagery and Chaos: The title also reflects the boys’ journey from order to savagery. When they first arrive, they are innocent schoolboys, but later they become hunters and killers. The chant,
“Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood,”
It echoes their worship of violence. The pig’s head becomes their false god—the Lord of the Flies—around which they dance and chant. It represents how human beings easily lose reason and fall into barbarism when fear and greed replace morality and civilization.
Reflection of Golding’s Central Theme: Golding wrote this novel after World War II. It sees how civilized men could commit horrible acts. The ‘Lord of the Flies’ is not only about boys on an island but about all mankind. The title reminds us that evil is universal and permanent in human nature. Ralph, Piggy, and Simon stand for goodness, but they fail against the darkness of Jack and his tribe. The “Lord” in the title symbolizes the power of evil ruling over human hearts and societies everywhere.
To sum up, the title “Lord of the Flies” is deeply symbolic and perfectly expresses Golding’s theme of human evil. It connects the novel’s events, imagery, and moral vision. The pig’s head, the flies, and the savage boys all point to one truth: man himself is the real beast. The title thus becomes a fitting symbol of moral corruption and the loss of innocence in human civilization.
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