Throughout the novel, the boys "attach" mentally and
emotionally to various items. For instance, the conch symbolizes a form of stability and
authority, as well as a vague sense of democracy. Whoever is holding the conch is the
only one allowed to speak; when Jack throws out the concept, the boys--particularly
those in Ralph's camp--are shaken.
Piggy's glasses are also
symbolic; as the boy with the clearest head, he has the best understanding of their
situation. He knows they are stranded, that no one knows where they are, and that being
as they have no adults around, they need to elect a leader they can all trust. Shortly
after his glasses are broken, the frenzies begin. Jack begins to revolt and play on the
fear of the younger children, and eventually breaks off with his own
group.
The book itself is allegorical, a symbol of
civilization versus savagery. The boys were from a civilized prep school and once taken
out of their highly-structured environment and dropped into nature, the primal overtakes
them.
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