Lord of the Flies is full of biblical references, starting from the title, which is a translation of the name of Beelzebub, a prince of the demons.
The conch is also one of the most prominent symbols, almost equal to royal regalia in the boys’ society. The conch represents order, being a way to call countless assemblies for the discussion of important matters. It also is a sign of civilized behavior. Bright at first, covered with ornaments, it slowly fades under the sunlight, just like the boys’ strive to order does, and when it is broken at the moment of Piggy’s death, this marks the point of no return.
Fire is another significant symbol of dualistic nature: it gives a chance for rescue, but it also acts as a destructive force, setting the island ablaze.
The Beast is a simple but impressive representation of evil, fear and darkness. There is no actual beast on the island, the monster exists only in imagination of kids, but a beast lurking in everyone’s soul is far more hostile than any animal one could encounter in this world.
Body paint – symbol of hiding and false identity. Jack uses it for practical reasons, but almost immediately feels its somehow liberating effect. This is not him now, it is a mask. As it turned out, the paint did not hide boys’ identities, it just revealed them completely.
