Jack And Simon in Lord Of The Flies Essay

In the Lord of the Flies, William Golding makes many contrasts between his symbolic characters. For example in chapter three, 'Huts on the beach', many contrasts and similarities are made between the two characters Jack and Simon. They are both significantly affected by the dramatic nature of the island but view it in differing ways. Where Jack views it as a dark, hunting ground, Simon views it as an open world filled with natural beauty. These descriptions give an idea to each characters individual personality and feelings.

While Simon may view the island as a natural place of beauty, Jack has become animalistic and adopted the natural danger of the island to his own personality. Jack is alone and descriptions like, with flared nostrils, and ape- like suggest he is behaving like an animal rather than the boy he was when he arrived on the island. Jack's appearance is also starting to resemble the beast within, as his hair has grown, considerably longer, and his skin darker with, his bare back was a mess of dark freckles and peeling sunburn shows how jack is transforming into this monster and doesnt care about his appearance.

Although the island turned Jack into a natural predator, Simon has become peaceful with nature and inherited the natural beauty of the Island. William Golding goes into detailed perspective of the nature around Simon and how Tall trunks bore unexpected pale flowers all the way up to the dark canopy where life went on clamorously. Later in the chapter Simon finds himself in the wilderness. While there, Simon was calm and enjoyed the solitude of his surroundings; "He came at last to a place where more sunshine fell" This shows the natural, peaceful, holy, beauty that Simon finds within the island and how he may be an outcast by the other boys, he remains independently true to his inner self.

In conclusion, William Goldings contrasting views of Jack and Simon show how the island can change a persons state of mind. Whether its becoming an animal hunting on the island, or an emotional, lone child admiring his surroundings. These two characters bring out the main aspects of characterization and create major conflict upon the other boys, and the clear and present danger that lurks within them all.