24 Classics for 2024 discussion

I envy those who got to read this book over with a teacher. Currently in chapter 4 and I can already see so many layers and symbolism intended by the author. The contrast of these characters is so interesting.

What do you guys think each of these characters represent?

I am only on the second chapter but I already see a ton of connections to the 7 deadly sins! I also wish I got to read this with a teacher because I feel like I could be missing so much. It would have been very interesting to hear those class discussions.

Re what may the chars represent, as the author grew up in a period where the rising political ideology was Fascism, the black wearing choir may be an oblique reference to that. Their leader Jack didn’t seem to favour democratic election of the leader. The wearing of capes with a cross on them also suggests a ref to the crusaders. Fatty may represent intellectuals - the fascists saw them as objects for scorn and irrelevant for the new order. I am still early on so my views will probably change 😊

Ralph seems to me to be the everyman character, he is prideful at first and takes more jabs than necessary in the beginning, but has a humble character arc, tries to keep things fair, and maintains his voice of reason all the way through.

Jack is definitely set up to be Ralph’s foil, he is headstrong, combative, wrathful, marshal, and violent. He embodies a charismatic leader that relies on groupthink and a mob mentality to establish and enforce his power once he has it.

Poor Piggy. I imagined him as the good angel on Ralph’s shoulder, no matter how often he got put down, he always came back and gave virtuous advice. I think the status of his specs represent the mindset of the stranded group. They are functional in the beginning, having to be constantly cleaned and maintained to still work accordingly. The first fight on top of the mountain is where a lens is popped out, and the group is no longer seeing straight, or ‘eye to eye’ literally. Eventually they are stolen and broken altogether, leaving Piggy blind and stumbling, just as the kids are blindly and brokenly following a new master. Definitely a rational intellectual type, the kind of friend you need and advisor you want.

I read that the three characters in ‘Coral Island’ are named Jack, Ralph, and Peterkin. I would like to think that Simon is a spin on Peterkin, making a biblical reference to Simon Peter and connecting them. I don’t think the connections end there, ‘The Lord of the Flies’ is a direct translation from the demon Beezlebub, and Simon and this demon have an imagined dialogue in the book. I’m sure there’s more there, but I’d have to go back and read that piece again. The book is absolutely summed up by him when he says ‘maybe WE are the beasts.’

Hard to say I ‘enjoyed’ something so dark, it was good in a ‘can’t take your eyes from it, horrifying type of way’ though. There’s a point about halfway in the book where you can see everything go cracked, and you’re just along for the downward spiraling ride. More research shows that Golding wrote this as a response to ‘Coral Island’ in the 1850’s to satirize that books idyllic depiction of similar circumstances. I can see why it’s considered a classic though, still better than Catcher in the Rye.

**potential spoilers in my last comment**

Simon wrote: "Ralph seems to me to be the everyman character, he is prideful at first and takes more jabs than necessary in the beginning, but has a humble character arc, tries to keep things fair, and maintains..."

This is an interesting take on Piggy's glasses and after reading your comment I also agree. I did not like Piggy as a character as I felt like he was the only one that didnt go through some sort of character transformation (for the good or bad) but if he was to serve as the good angel on Ralph's shoulder I could see why that wouldn't be necessary.