Lord of the Flies (1963)
Play
Add to Instant Queue
Add

The Conchs

Finding the Conch

The Conchs is found on the beach by Ralph and Piggy early on. Piggy, instigates the necessity of using the shell when he reflects that he knew someone back home that used one to get their children home, by blowing into it. This representation of the shell as a horn elevates it the level of a trumpeting courtier announcing the presence of the King along with a call to arms which in this case is a call to assemble.

Once the boys see the Conchs it becomes a symbol of the civil ideology that they left behind in merry Old English. It takes on the supreme responsibility of representing Law and Order, civility, duty, responsibility and the many other items that the boys were really just starting to learn about in School.

At first the Conchs serves it purpose of rallying the troops, but soon the stronger wills and lesser minds collide into a cacophony of bestial self survival.

King Jack

At one point Ralph says, "I am the leader. I have the Conchs".
Jack, dressed in his war makeup, with all the air and superiority of a King, replies, "You don't have it here. Besides, it doesn't work on this end of the island."
Ralph restates the facts of Law and Order and says, "The Conchs works, here and everywhere on the island." To no end as most of the boys now join Jack.

In the end the Conchs is destroyed into a million pieces by Roger (the sinister representation of carnal depth) when he drops a boulder on Piggy and the shell, whom both are washed away in the waves.

Piggy

Piggy rambling about something

Of all the characters in the work, Piggy is the most enigmatic. For he is a contradiction of sorts. For one, he is the most socially engaged of the group which is made clear immediately when he presses Ralph about who survived and when the conchs is used for the first time about making sure to get everyone's name. He also talks about writing letters to his Auntie and about participating in grown up ideas. "Grown ups would sit down, have a spot of tea and discuss."

Yet at the same time he also has so many natural imperfections that he doesn't fit at all with in the boundaries of the boys and the changing world at large. From his looks to voice, right down to his syntax, which is far from grammatically correct, especially for a well manner English gentleman.

Piggy is left with the responsibility or representing the dignity of the social contract. The very reason of how and why we maintain it: perfection in that form of creation that is made imperfectly. He is even given the the most valuable of gifts: the gift of sight. For him, and his imperfection that vision comes at a cost: the glasses. His vision is stolen at first for the good of the group and then eventually for lesser more nefarious reasons.

What becomes of Piggy is what becomes of all those nails that stand up against the tyrannical nature of man. Once blinded he only wishes for things to be put right again, but without his farsighted gift, Piggy is left in a hole that can easily be covered by lesser more ambitious people.

	William Golding	Novel
	Peter Brook	Screenplay

	James Aubrey	Ralph
	Tom Chapin	Jack
	Hugh Edwards	Piggy
	Roger Elwin	Roger
	Tom Gaman	Simon
	Roger Allan
	David Brunjes	Donald
	Peter Davy	Peter
	Kent Fletcher	Percival
	Nicholas Hammond	Robert

Name	Lord of the Flies
US Release	Jan. 1, 1963
UK Release
AUS Release
Runtime	90
Language(s)	Add a new language
Genre(s)	Add a new genre
Theme(s)	Add a new theme
Rating
Alias(es)

Domestic	$0
Foreign	+$0

Lord of the Flies (1963) PlayAdd to Instant QueueAdd

The Conchs

Piggy

GARGANTIA #4 - - Watch & Learn

What I'm Drinking: New Albion Ale

Lord of the Flies (1963)
Play
Add to Instant Queue
Add