Comment on the significance of the
title of Golding’s Lord of the Flies.
The title “Lord of the Flies” in Golding’s novel could be a reference to the Hebrew name for Satan, Beelzebub. It translates to Lord of Flies. It is obvious that the Lord of Flies in the novel symbolizes the devil, or the evil in every human being. It seems as though Golding choose this title as a representation of the evil in humans. The title Lord of the Flies is just a metaphoric way of explaining the plot in a short text.
Some believe that it refers to a line from 'King Lear'. "As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods, - They kill us for their sport".
If you read the end of the chapter, A gift for darkness, its the scene where we see Simon speaking to the pigs head, who calls himself, the Lord of the flies. In this scene, the Lord of the Flies says, "There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And Im the beast." He also says, "Fancy thinking that the beast was something you could hunt and kill."
I am well aware that the word Beelzebob, meaning Satan, is the Hebrew word for, the Lord of the Flies. The beast is obviously Satan, the pigs head, speaking in Simons thoughts. The actual title however, signifies that the children on the island are the flies, and their lord is Satan, particulary the ones that Jack converted. The Beast states, "Do you see, you're not wanted. We are going to have fun on this island. So don't try it or else we shall do you." WE being Satan and his flies, the FLIES being Jack, Roger Maurice, etc. Satan also stated that Simon would indeed be killed and that he would meet him down below. This particular scene in the book reminded me of when Jesus was speaking with Satan in the garden, and how Satan said that Jesus's plan would fail, 'so don't bother trying it.' Jesus was sacrificed just as Simon was, except Jesus was sacrificed by the will of god, and Simon was killed by the will of Satan.
