Skip to main content

In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, what are some quotes that compare Simon to Jesus of Nazareth?

This question is another way of asking, "What quotes show Simon is a Christ-figure?" Jesus of Nazareth, according to the New Testament, is the Messiah, or Christ, which literally means "the anointed one." The Christ brings truth and healing to his followers but is rejected by those he comes to save. He provides salvation by dying for the sins of his people. There are many parallels between Simon and Jesus in Golding's novel. 

In chapter 3, there is a scene that parallels Jesus' feeding the five thousand: "Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down the the endless, outstretched hands." 


In chapter 6, Simon is walking next to Ralph when he bumps into a tree, whereupon "Simon reeled and a white spot on his forehead turned red and trickled." The blood on Simon's head is reminiscent of the blood that tricked down Jesus' face when the crown of thorns was placed on his head.


In chapter 7, Simon acts as a prophet, like Jesus, telling Ralph, "You'll get back to where you came from." 


Simon is portrayed as a healer in chapter 7, when Jack gets gouged by the passing boar. He says to Jack, "That's a wound... and you ought to suck it." 


In chapter 5, when Simon tries to explain "mankind's essential illness," the other boys mock him: "the laughter beat him cruelly and he shrank away defenseless to his seat." 


In chapter 8, Simon has an encounter with the Lord of the Flies, which is Beelzebub, the chief of demons. This is similar to Jesus' temptation by the devil. Just as the devil wanted Jesus to forget about being the Messiah, the Lord of the Flies says to Simon: "Get back to the others and we'll forget the whole thing." 


Language that Golding uses during the scene of Simon's murder is meant to bring to mind Jesus' crucifixion. First, Golding writes, "Simon was crying out something about a dead man on a hill." Although it refers to the dead paratrooper on the mountain, "dead man on a hill" conjures an image of Jesus' death on the hill of Calvary. Later Golding refers to Simon's "broken body," a religious term that Christians use during the sacrament of Eucharist or ordinance of Communion: the wafers are referred to as Jesus' "body which is broken for you." 


These are some quotes that indicate how Golding subtly and carefully portrays Simon as a Christ-figure and compares him to Jesus of Nazareth.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...