Lord of the Flies - Simon

Simon’s role as a Christ figure doesn’t have a very large influence on the plot of the story, however he was of large importance to the themes of the book. Simon is one versus the world: the good of man faced up against the inherent evils of of the beast, Jack, Roger, and the Lord of the Flies. Throughout the story, small evidences of this are given, such as the following quote: “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” (Golding 56). Similar to Simon in general, this had much more significance in meaning than in plot. Simon took compassion on those helpless and, with no reward to himself or even hesitation, spent time and energy for them. This establishes Simon as the force of good in the book, confronting the evils. He is also the first to recognize moral truths such as in his encounter with the Lord of the Flies when it speaks to him saying: “You knew, didn't you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?” (Golding 143). This confirms an idea Simon briefly mentioned before, that there is no beast, except the one inside of everyone. He says: “What I mean is… maybe it’s only us” (Golding 89). Simon was the only one to acknowledge the descent of the boys into savagery as the evil within everyone. The Lord of the Flies, symbolically the devil, also directly targets Simon and talks with him. None of these played much into the story, but Simon’s effect on the meaning of the novel was profound and unmatched.