The complexity of the human psyche fascinates many psychoanalysts, including Sigmund Freud. He developed one theory about the human psyche and divided it into three parts: the id, superego, and ego. "According to Freud's model of the psyche, the id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that contains sexual and aggressive drives and hidden memories, the super-ego operates as a moral conscience, and the ego is the realistic part that mediates between the desires of the id and the super-ego" (McLeod). In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Golding’s characters embody each of these three roles in the human psyche and highlight the interaction amongst the three by using symbolism. Golding demonstrates the tripartite of the human psyche
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For instance, when the boys select their chief the first time, Ralph stands out due to his appearance and “…most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. The being that had blown that, had sat waiting for them on the platform with the delicate thing balanced on his knees was set apart” (Golding 22). Ralph leads through cooperation and rules. He leads by example and weighs his options when making tough decisions. The conch signifies calling meetings, designates who can talk, and symbolizes overall order. Unlike the conch which has comforting connotations and symbolizes order, Jack’s knife symbolizes disorder and savagery. For example, “Jack slammed his knife into a trunk and looked round challengingly” (Golding 33). Jack’s leadership style depends on leading though strength, fear, and brute force. Disorder reigns supreme and the boys descend into savagery following Jack. He feels personally threatened in his position of power when Ralph or Piggy question him and as a result, he lashes out at those who are closest to him. A knife signifies killing and division. Furthermore, when Ralph and Piggy confront Jack and his tribe at their fort, “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist” (Golding 181). The conch breaks, signifying that it holds no more …show more content…
For instance, “Ralph’s name, derived from the Anglo-Saxon language, means ‘counsel’” (“Character”). As the ego, Ralph possesses the conch, holds meetings, and generally tries to keep the boys together. He symbolizes the conscious choice to choose to listen to other’s counsel, especially Piggy. On the other hand, Jack’s name means the polar opposite. For example, “Jack’s name, Hebrew in origin, means ‘one who supplants,’ reflecting his use of force” (“Character”). As the id, Jack possesses overwhelming primitive instincts that drive him to savagery much quicker than the other boys. He holds his knife as a symbol of division and force. He focuses on hunting rather than maintaining the rules and order that Ralph tries to uphold. Furthermore, the relationship between Piggy and Jack, representing the clash between the superego and id respectively, reflects through their names as well. For instance, “Piggy’s name parallels the wild pigs that are hunted on the island and also reflects his superior intellect” (“Character”). At the beginning, Piggy evades most of Jack’s ire, outsmarting his in more than a few situations, similar to how the wild pigs evade Jack at first. However, both the pigs and Piggy ultimately fall prey to the boys, especially Jack. The downfall of the two symbolizes the struggle between the id and superego, and
For instance, when the boys select their chief the first time, Ralph stands out due to his appearance and “…most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. The being that had blown that, had sat waiting for them on the platform with the delicate thing balanced on his knees was set apart” (Golding 22). Ralph leads through cooperation and rules. He leads by example and weighs his options when making tough decisions. The conch signifies calling meetings, designates who can talk, and symbolizes overall order. Unlike the conch which has comforting connotations and symbolizes order, Jack’s knife symbolizes disorder and savagery. For example, “Jack slammed his knife into a trunk and looked round challengingly” (Golding 33). Jack’s leadership style depends on leading though strength, fear, and brute force. Disorder reigns supreme and the boys descend into savagery following Jack. He feels personally threatened in his position of power when Ralph or Piggy question him and as a result, he lashes out at those who are closest to him. A knife signifies killing and division. Furthermore, when Ralph and Piggy confront Jack and his tribe at their fort, “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist” (Golding 181). The conch breaks, signifying that it holds no more …show more content…
For instance, “Ralph’s name, derived from the Anglo-Saxon language, means ‘counsel’” (“Character”). As the ego, Ralph possesses the conch, holds meetings, and generally tries to keep the boys together. He symbolizes the conscious choice to choose to listen to other’s counsel, especially Piggy. On the other hand, Jack’s name means the polar opposite. For example, “Jack’s name, Hebrew in origin, means ‘one who supplants,’ reflecting his use of force” (“Character”). As the id, Jack possesses overwhelming primitive instincts that drive him to savagery much quicker than the other boys. He holds his knife as a symbol of division and force. He focuses on hunting rather than maintaining the rules and order that Ralph tries to uphold. Furthermore, the relationship between Piggy and Jack, representing the clash between the superego and id respectively, reflects through their names as well. For instance, “Piggy’s name parallels the wild pigs that are hunted on the island and also reflects his superior intellect” (“Character”). At the beginning, Piggy evades most of Jack’s ire, outsmarting his in more than a few situations, similar to how the wild pigs evade Jack at first. However, both the pigs and Piggy ultimately fall prey to the boys, especially Jack. The downfall of the two symbolizes the struggle between the id and superego, and