The Lord of the Flies was written by William Golding. Simon is one of the major characters in this novel. Simon’s character lives by what is morally right as opposed to the rest of the island. Simon represents essential human goodness.
There are many biblical parallels in the Lord of the Flies that result in Simon being compared to Christ. One reason Simon is regarded as the Christ figure in Lord of the Flies is that he commits many selfless acts just like Jesus Christ did. Simon chooses to stay and help Ralph build huts rather than go play with the other inhabitants. Ralph compliments Simon by saying “Simon. He Helps. All the rest rushed off.
He’s done as much as I have” (54).
Golding also illustrates Simon’s generosity when “Simon pulled off the choicest from the endless, outstretched hands” (56).
Jesus was well known to have been very generous and kind with children. Simon’s generosity and unselfishness result in Simon being portrayed as the Christ figure. Another reason Simon is parallel to Christ is that he has mystical qualities much like that of Christ.
Many of the things Simon does are either unusual or supernatural. Simon tells Ralph, “I just think you ” ll get back alright,” (111) even though he believes that he, himself might not get off the island alive. Simon foresees his own death; just like Jesus. Also after Jesus dies, his body magically disappears. Simon’s death parallels Jesus’ death.
The Essay on Simon Character in Lord of the Flies
In this extract all of the boys take part in the murder of Simon. Simon is described as ‘the beast’ during his killing. Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel, the death of Simon also symbolises the death of spirituality. After his brutal death Golding describes ‘his check silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculptured marble’ this almost romantic description is an emblem of Simon’s ...
When Simon is killed and thrown into the water his body “lifted a fraction of an inch from the sand and a bubble of air escaped from the mouth with a wet plop… Simon’s dead body moved out toward the open sea.” Finally, the striking resemblance between Simon’s death and Jesus’ death also equate to Simon being labeled the Christ figure in Golding’s novel. Just like how Jesus is tempted by the devil in the events leading to his death; Simon is tempted by the devil, or The Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies is a direct translation of the name Beelzebub, a powerful demon thought to be the devil himself.
The Lord of the Flies says to Simon, “What are you doing out here all alone? Aren’t you afraid of me? There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast.” (143) This closely resembles Jesus’ forty days in the desert. Jesus’ death was followed by a large thunderstorm and solar eclipse. A natural phenomenon also occurred during Simon’s death when “the clouds opened and let down the rain like a waterfall” (153).
All throughout the novel Simon’s death closely parallels that of the death of Jesus.
Because of these reasons, Simon is portrayed as the novel’s Christ figure. First, Simon is generous and kind. Second, he is mysterious. Lastly, his death parallels Christ’s death. With these accounts from the novel one can reasonably say that in some way or another Simon is represented as Christ in The Lord of the Flies..
