William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is a novel rich in symbolism and allegorical meaning, prompting readers to delve beyond the surface narrative of stranded schoolboys. One recurring and potent image is that of “whiteness,” particularly associated with the sea around Castle Rock and Piggy’s tragic demise. Understanding this imagery is key to grasping the deeper meaning of Lord of the Flies. This article will explore the multifaceted significance of whiteness within the novel, shedding light on its connection to savagery, loss of innocence, and the profound themes Golding masterfully weaves.
The Literal and Symbolic Whiteness of the Rock
On a literal level, the whiteness described in Lord of the Flies refers to the frothing sea foam as waves crash against the rocks, specifically Castle Rock. The text provides vivid descriptions of this natural phenomenon. When Ralph first encounters Castle Rock, the sea’s action is portrayed as the “breathing of some stupendous creature,” a leviathan. The water recedes to reveal the rock’s features before surging back with a roar, “flowered into a field of whiteness.” This cyclical action, described as the “leviathan’s breathing,” becomes a recurring motif linked to the rock itself.
Alt text: Ralph’s perspective of the ocean swell and granite rocks, symbolizing the powerful and sometimes violent forces of nature on the island in Lord of the Flies.
This imagery takes on a darker significance when Piggy is killed. The rock becomes the stage for this brutal act, described as a “square, red rock in the sea.” After Piggy’s fatal fall, the sea “breathed again in a long, slow sigh, the water boiled white and pink over the rock.” This whiteness, now stained with “pink,” becomes inextricably linked with violence and death. The conch, symbol of civilization, shatters into “a thousand white fragments” at the same moment, further associating whiteness with the destruction of order and reason.
Alt text: Illustration of Piggy’s fall and impact on the red rock, emphasizing the violent climax and tragic loss of intellect and civilization in Lord of the Flies.
Whiteness as a Perversion of Purity
Ralph’s yearning for “a bed and sheets” highlights the symbolic contrast Golding establishes. Sheets, typically white, represent the “clean, safe harbour of home,” the idealized simplicity and order of civilization. However, the only whiteness Ralph finds on the island is the “whiteness of the leviathan’s breathing.” This juxtaposition is crucial. The whiteness of the island isn’t purity or safety; it’s the chaotic, violent froth of the sea, a constant reminder of the island’s savage reality. The idealized “whiteness” of civilization is absent, replaced by a raw, untamed whiteness that mirrors the boys’ descent into savagery.
“Spilled Milk” and the Irreversible Loss
Following Piggy’s death, Ralph’s internal monologue reflects on the futility of regret: “There is no point in crying over spilt milk.” This proverb perfectly encapsulates the irreversible nature of Piggy’s demise and the loss of innocence it represents. Piggy’s brains, like “spilled milk,” cannot be put back. The whiteness associated with this moment is not just the sea foam, but also implicitly the absent, pure whiteness of milk, now forever spoiled and lost. This connection emphasizes the finality of Piggy’s death and the permanent damage inflicted upon the boys’ humanity.
Piggy’s Transformation into the Leviathan
Ralph’s chilling thought, “Piggy was everywhere, was on this neck, was become terrible in darkness and death,” is deeply connected to the earlier descriptions of the rock and the sea as a leviathan. The leviathan, a mythical sea monster, embodies immense, uncontrollable power and, in some interpretations, represents Satan. In Ralph’s traumatized mind, Piggy, murdered on the “altar table of the rock,” is consumed by and transformed into this leviathan figure.
Alt text: Castle Rock with the sea surging around it, visualizing the ‘leviathan’s breathing’ and the imposing, threatening nature of the island setting in Lord of the Flies.
Just as Simon recognized the “beast” as residing within each boy, Ralph perceives Piggy’s essence as becoming part of the larger, terrifying “beast” symbolized by the leviathan. This “darkness and death” associated with Piggy and the leviathan becomes something supernatural and profoundly frightening, exceeding even the tangible fear of the tribal savagery. Ralph seeks refuge near the tribe, “if the horrors of the supernatural emerged one could at least mix with humans for the time being,” highlighting the overwhelming terror this transformed Piggy-leviathan figure evokes.
Conclusion: The Enduring Meaning of Whiteness in Lord of the Flies
The whiteness in Lord of the Flies is a powerful and multifaceted symbol. It is not simply a color of purity or innocence, but rather a complex image representing the brutal forces of nature, the irreversible loss of innocence, and the terrifying darkness that emerges when civilization crumbles. The “whiteness” associated with Piggy’s death and the leviathan embodies the novel’s core message: the fragility of civilization and the potent, inherent savagery that lurks beneath the surface of humanity. Understanding this symbolism is crucial to fully appreciating the enduring and disturbing meaning of Golding’s masterpiece.
