In William Golding’s chilling novel, Lord of the Flies, the descent of British schoolboys into savagery is a central theme. While the novel doesn’t explicitly depict cannibalism, the question of whether Simon was cannibalized during his tragic death is a point of intense discussion. This article delves into the events surrounding Simon’s demise, exploring the boys’ savage behavior and the near-cannibalistic frenzy they exhibit, ultimately arguing that while not literally cannibalized, Simon becomes a victim of their primal instincts and mob mentality.
Savagery and the Mob Mentality in Simon’s Death
The boys in Lord of the Flies gradually abandon civilization and embrace primal instincts. Initially organized and hopeful, they devolve into warring factions, driven by fear and Jack’s charismatic savagery. They hunt pigs, paint their faces, and engage in tribal dances, each step further distancing them from civilized behavior.
Simon’s death occurs during one of these frenzied moments. Emerging from the forest to reveal the truth about the “beast” – a dead parachutist – Simon is tragically mistaken for the creature itself. The boys, caught in a storm and whipped into a frenzy by chanting and dancing, are no longer rational individuals. They become a unified, savage mob. As the original text states, “the gang… has fallen under Jack’s spell to the point that they are behaving as if they have been drugged.” This loss of individual reason and the overwhelming power of the group are crucial to understanding the brutality of Simon’s death.
Near Cannibalistic Frenzy
The description of Simon’s murder is visceral and disturbing. The boys “tear and bite” at Simon, actions that, while not explicitly cannibalistic consumption, evoke a primitive, animalistic feeding frenzy. This scene highlights how close the boys are to complete savagery, bordering on cannibalism. The text accurately points out, “the closest they get to cannibalism on their journey to savagery is tearing and biting at Simon’s skin during his murder.” This “tearing and biting” suggests a breakdown of societal norms to an almost cannibalistic level of violence.
Had Simon arrived at a moment when food was even scarcer, or if the rescue by the naval officer had been delayed, the narrative strongly suggests the boys’ savagery could have escalated further. The availability of pigs is noted in the original article as a factor that might have prevented explicit cannibalism. Without this food source, driven by hunger and their already rampant savagery, the step to cannibalism would have been a terrifyingly plausible progression.
Symbolic Cannibalism of Innocence and Reason
While Simon was not literally cannibalized in Lord of the Flies, his death at the hands of the other boys represents a symbolic consumption of innocence, reason, and civilization. Simon, often seen as the most Christ-like and insightful character, embodies goodness and understanding. His brutal murder signifies the boys’ complete devouring of these civilized qualities within themselves.
In conclusion, while Lord of the Flies stops short of depicting explicit cannibalism, the scene of Simon’s death is imbued with a near-cannibalistic frenzy. More importantly, the killing of Simon represents a deeper, symbolic cannibalism – the boys’ savage consumption of morality and intellect, solidifying the novel’s grim exploration of humanity’s inherent capacity for savagery.
