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Piggy and Ralph find the conch shell just after the crash on the island and Ralph blows into it to alert other survivors. It quickly becomes a symbol for order on the island; during meetings, the boys are only allowed to speak if they are holding the conch. Piggy passionately believes in the power of the conch and when interrupted, states ‘I got the conch…I got a right to speak’. Ralph also had an ‘affectionate reverence’ for the conch.
Jack begins to question the authority of the conch and to reject the notion of each boy having their say during meetings. Admonished by Ralph for interrupting, he shouts: ‘we don’t need the conch any more. We know who ought to say things’. After the boys divide into two factions, Jack sneers at Ralph’s insistence that the conch still determines who is allowed to speak.
Piggy carries the conch with pride as he, Ralph, Sam and Eric go to confront Jack’s tribe about his stolen glasses. Ralph is unsuccessful in his attempt to reason with Jack, so Piggy seizes the ‘white, magic shell’ to shout: ‘which is better – to have rules and agree or to hunt and kill?’ Roger releases the giant rock, which kills Piggy and destroys the conch. The destruction of both Piggy and the conch represents the final loss of order on the island.
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FAQs
The conch shell is an important symbol, or representation, of unity, order, and authority in William Golding's Lord of the Flies. The conch, which is an empty shell left by a sea snail, brings the boys together for the first time after the plane crash when Ralph blows it, calling the first meeting on the island.
What does Piggy say when he has the conch? ›
It quickly becomes a symbol for order on the island; during meetings, the boys are only allowed to speak if they are holding the conch. Piggy passionately believes in the power of the conch and when interrupted, states 'I got the conch… I got a right to speak'. Ralph also had an 'affectionate reverence' for the conch.
What does Jack say about the conch in chapter 9? ›
When Ralph arrives, Jack asks the gathered boys who will join his tribe. Ralph says that he's still chief and has the conch, but Jack says the conch has no authority on this side of the island. Jack claims to be beyond the conch's (civilization's) reach.
What does a conch shell symbolize? ›
The conch shell, an emblem of both cultural and spiritual significance, has transcended time, retaining its mystique and relevance across various civilizations and contemporary practices. In Hindu mythology, the conch, known as the 'shankha,' symbolizes creation and is often associated with the preserver god Vishnu.
What does the conch symbolize in real life? ›
It's a symbol of purity – something very holy, something divine. Traditionally, 'til today, it's mainly used in a purpose similar to a church bell, for example, in this part of the world.
What does Piggy's death symbolize? ›
Piggy's death is symbolic of the boys' loss of innocence. Piggy represents all that is rational, civil and intelligent. When he is killed, there is nothing left of civility on the island, and Ralph must face the reality of surviving in the barbaric culture that has taken over the other boys.
Why does the conch lose its importance? ›
Piggy is hit by the rock and falls to the rocks below and dies. In this moment, the conch that Piggy was holding is shattered. The destruction of the conch, the object used to call meetings and keep order, symbolizes the end of civilized rules and democracy. This loss of order is also demonstrated by Piggy's murder.
How does the conch symbolize order? ›
The conch symbolizes the civilization and order, because the one who have it is the only one who can talk (Even if sometimes this rule is not taken into account), also it helps to join the boys and to keep them in order and peace.
Why does Piggy love the conch? ›
Piggy's Personality in Lord of the Flies
When Ralph finds the conch shell, it is Piggy who envisions a use for it. The shell does more than simply call the boys to order; it serves as a symbol of order and authority. The conch shell is a symbol order and authority.
Why does Jack say that they don t need the conch any longer chapter 6? ›
The conch symbolizes government and order, and when Jack says that they do not need the conch he is taking away the only part of civilization they have on the island.
Chapter 11: What Happens to Piggy and the Conch? Piggy believes that the conch shell will keep him safe from Jack. Piggy puts his faith in the conch, and he sees it as a symbol of the boys' civility. However, Jack and his tribe have lost all of the respect that they had once held for the conch.
Was Piggy holding the conch when he died? ›
Ralph, who hears the rock falling, dives and dodges it. But the boulder strikes Piggy, shatters the conch shell he is holding, and knocks him off the mountainside to his death on the rocks below.
What does the conch represent and why is it so important to Piggy? ›
The conch represents civil discourse on the island, and only works as long as the boys all believe in its power and the necessity of the idea it symbolizes. Both literally and symbolically the conch is a fragile, vulnerable object, which is why Piggy, Ralph, and even Jack treat it with care.
Why must the boys choose a leader and what role does the conch shell play? ›
They eventually recognize the need for leadership and authority, which leads to the election of Ralph as the leader. The conch shell indeed represents democracy and order in the story. As you mentioned, whoever holds the conch shell has the right to speak during meetings.
What does the conch symbolize in Lord of the Flies Chapter 12? ›
This is significant because the skull was a symbol of savagery and the conch was a symbol of order and civilization. With the conch shattered and the skull remaining, it's clear that savagery has won.
What do Piggy and the conch symbolize? ›
Conch- is a symbol of law order, beauty, and organised society. Whoever owns the conch controls power on the island. Once it is destroyed then the boys are lost to savagery. Piggy- as well as a character he is also a symbol, of civilisation and democracy.
What does the conch shell symbolize in Lord of the Flies quizlet? ›
The conch was symbol of order, civilization, and pureness. The Pig Head and Simons Hallucination (The Lord of the Flies).
How does the conch symbolize democracy? ›
This rule is made by Ralph, through Piggy (Golding 33) and shows that the conch stands for law and order, a main trait of a democracy, since everyone has the right to free speech with the conch.
