When events seem to be running smoothly there's always one action or person that manages to

ruin their progress, hence the saying Too good to be true". In book,movies and reality this occurs
freuently and is used the cause to the rising action leading to the clima!. The 'spark' to the fire. Lord
of the Flies is no e!ception to this situation. In Lord of the Flies by William "olding, pigs are used as
the cause and a symbol of aggression inside the boys. #vents showing their aggression were the hunt
for pigs, $imon's illusion and finally through the pig's head.
The first signs of aggression surfaced when the boys started hunting for pigs. The hunt for pigs
unfortunately developed into a lust to kill. When %ack first hunts he finds himself incapable of killing a
pig and the beginning of chapter three was a turning point. %ack took whoever was guarding the fire to
go hunting. This resulted in the boys missing a passing boat the beginning of his blood lust. 'There
was lashings of blood.' said %ack, laughing and shuddering, 'you should have seen it&' 'We'll go hunting
every day' 'alph spoke again, hoarsely. (e had not moved. ')ou let the fire out.' *"olding, +,-.
$econdly, the feud between %ack and 'alph started when they had different priorities. 'alph prioriti.ing
rescue and shelter while %ack, thought only of hunting. This created tension between them. This
conflict grew throughout the story causing the split of 'alph's tribe and the deaths of $imon and /iggy.
'I was talking about smoke& 0on't you want to be rescued1 2ll you can talk about is pig, pig, pig&'3
*44-. 5inally, their chant was used to celebrate the success of the hunt and recapped their aggression
towards the pigs giving them a barbaric and sinister edge '6ut her throat. $pill her blood.'3 *+7-. The
chant seemed to entertain and increase their potential for brutality, thus starting their transformation
into savages.
2nother situation where pigs are a symbol of the boys aggression was through $imon's
hallucination. When the 8ord of the 5lies is briefly introduced, we see that it is something far from
normal, be it a supernatural force or a hallucination. It showed aggression through it's appearance, how
it changed $imon's image and finally in what it said to $imon. 5irst of all the physical description of
the 8ord of the 5lies is a gruesome pig's head on a stick covered in flies with it's guts spewing out gave
the 8ord of the 5lies an image of death, decay and brutality. (e opened his eyes uickly and there was
the head grinning amusedly in the strange daylight, ignoring the flies, the spilled guts, even ignoring
the indignity of being spiked on a stick.3 *949-. $econdly $imon's hallucination gave him a harsher
image. 5or e!ample, $imon in his mind, would talk to the 8ord of the 5lies. In reality people would see
a dark image in the shadows, covered in blood talking to no one. The reality of $imon's situation made
everyone think that he was the monster during the feast resulting in his violent death. 5inally, the 8ord
of the 5lies tells $imon evil things, talking about death, killing etc. 5or e!ample the 8ord of the 5lies
tried to convince $imon to go play with the others, telling him to fit in and told $imon that he can not
escape him. It is as if he were trying to convince $imon to stop resisting and conform. ')ou knew,
didn't you1 I'm part of you1 : 6ome now, ' said the 8ord of the 5lies. '"et back to the others and we'll
forget the whole thing.' : 'This is rediculous. )ou know perfectly well you'll only meet me down
there; so don't try to escape&' *94<-. The 8ord of the 5lies shows that evil has already consumed most of
the boys but still trying to convert some.
5inally, aggressive behavior in the boys is demonstrated through the pig's head on the stick.
5irst of all, the head of the stick is a representation of the beast because it was created as a sacrifice so
it would not attack them, but for $imon, it was something that tried to control him, a monster. It is also
a warning, showing that their solution to any problem is through violence. That is proven when their
solution to the beast was to cut off a pig's head and put it up on a spear. ')ou got to go because it's not
safe;' ';they made us. They hurt us;' .. ';they made us;' ';we couldn't help it;''. *7=<- ')ou're sure he
meant in there1' The twin moaned faintly and then suealed again.3. *79>- This showed that their way
to discipline and keep control is through physical violence. While being chased, 'alph comes across
the head on the stick. This armed 'alph making him capable of violence once again. In panic, 'alph
thrust his own stick through the crack and struck with all his might. '2aa;ah&' (is spear twisted a little
in his hands and then he withdrew it again. '?oh;ooh;'3. *794;79@- #arlier on, when 'alph went back to
6astle 'ock, #ric and $am told him about 'oger's spear sharpened at both ends. This is the same kind
of spear used for the pig's head, implying that 'alph would be dealt with savagely. This showed their
hate for 'alph, he was no better then a pig. 5inally, the head on a stick showed their loss of innocence
and increased aggression. 2t the start of the story, they were not able to kill a pig, but as time went on
they decapitated one. Aore familiar with killing later on, they barely hesitated with the murder of /iggy
and willingly went to hunt 'alph down. They also planned to dismember 'alph's body by taking the
head and, like the pig mounting it onto a stick, completing their transformation from innocent to
savages.
When the boys first landed they were a calm, organised and innocent society. When they
discovered about the pigs on the island they wanted meat as would anyone else. But as they hunted
more, they lost track of their priorities and became engulfed in violence. What started out as a well
built society was demolished by pigs. The pigs gradually brought out their evil side which overwelmed
and consumed most. Through the events of the hunt, $imon's illusions and the decapitation of the pig
this was shown. If even pigs can bring out the agression in people, what can't1
Pigs. A Symbol of Agression.
Conrad Yeung
Ms.Bottriell
ENG2D
November 2! 2"##
Bibliogra$%y
"olding, William. Lord of the Flies. 8ondonC 5aber, 9D4>. /rint.