William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies is set around the year 1950. A group of English schoolboys are evacuated by plane during a time of war. The plane crashes, and they are stranded on a deserted island and have to fend for themselves. Golding uses this situation to explore human nature and society. There is a wealth of characters, each with their symbolic role.
We will explore the main characters in Golding's novel, including the leadership of Ralph, the intellect of Piggy, Jack's savagery as leader and hunter of the tribe, and the morality of Simon. Quotes will be provided for each character. This article is suitable for students revising for their GCSE English Literature exams and is suitable for all exam boards, including AQA.
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Ralph
Ralph is introduced as the protagonist among the characters in William Golding's Lord of the Flies. He is a natural leader, and Ralph represents order, democratic values and the hope of rescue. Ralph and Jack symbolise the struggle between civilisation and chaos, with Jack growing increasingly savage as their time on the island progresses.
He shows his leadership qualities early on by asserting authority using the conch shell. This becomes a powerful symbol of structure and democracy, a means to govern the boys on the island:
"We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything." (Chapter 2)
The importance of maintaining order becomes increasingly challenging for Ralph. He repeatedly draws attention to the fire, reminding others to keep it lit so they can all be rescued:
"The fire is the most important thing on the island. How can we ever be rescued except by luck, if we don’t keep a fire going?" (Chapter 5)
Ralph is isolated by the end of the novel, despairing at the loss of civilised values among the boys. He cries when he is confronted by his rescuer, the naval officer:
"Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart..." (Chapter 12)
During the story, Ralph progresses from a confident, positive leader to a hunted, disillusioned figure. Golding uses his character to reflect on the fragility of civilisation when confronted by human instincts.
Piggy
Ralph and Piggy meet each other at the beginning of the story and discover the conch together. Piggy represents intellect, reason and social order. He frequently provides logical solutions and seeks structured governance. However, he is overweight with asthma, and he is unpopular among the other boys. This makes him an easy target for bullying.
His glasses symbolise the power of rationality and civilisation. They are crucial for starting fires, which symbolise the promise of rescue and hope:
"His specs—use them as burning glasses!" (Chapter 2)
Piggy remains a voice of reason throughout the novel, urging others to maintain rules and order, even when this puts him in danger due to his unpopularity:
"I just take the conch to say this. I can’t see no more, and I got to get my glasses back. Awful things have been done on this island." (Chapter 11)
Piggy's strength of rationality condemns him as the boys become increasingly savage. Roger murders Piggy at Castle Rock by dropping a boulder on him, breaking the conch in the process. Piggy's death symbolises a complete breakdown of reason and civilisation:
"Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across the square red rock in the sea… His head opened, and stuff came out and turned red." (Chapter 11)
Jack Merridew
Jack symbolises the darker side to humanity - savage, violent and power hungry. He is introduced as the leader of the choir boys, marching them through the heat until Simon faints from heat exhaustion. Jack assumes the leadership of the group when he realises there are no grown-ups on the island, until Ralph is elected after a vote. Here, he demonstrates his assertive nature and ambition:
"I ought to be chief... because I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp." (Chapter 1)
After losing out to Ralph, Jack becomes the leader of the hunters and initially accepts Ralph's leadership. However, Jack becomes more brutal as the plot progresses and becomes the novel's antagonist and Ralph’s rival. He rejects civilisation in favour of primal instincts, seen with his hunting obsession:
"Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!" (Chapter 4)
By the climax of the novel, Jack's tribe are fully in control of the island. Jack leads a violent dictatorship, with painted faces, rituals and barbaric feasts. His pursuit of power represents Golding's message about humanity’s capacity for evil:
"I'm chief. I was chosen." (Chapter 11)
Simon
A gentle and insightful character, Simon represents innate goodness and spiritual wisdom. He is aware of the darker side to humanity and can be considered a Christ-like figure in the novel.
Simon is sensitive from the outset, caring for the young children. He also realises the problem posed by the beast, which he is a savagery inside each boy rather than the monster on the island:
"Maybe there is a beast... maybe it’s only us." (Chapter 5)
His critical moment happens when he encounters the symbolic Lord of the Flies, namely the pig's head. This represents the darkness of humanity. It solidifies Simon's recognition of the true danger on the island:
"Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!... You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?" (Chapter 8)
Tragically, Simon is killed by the boys, including Piggy and Ralph, when he rushes to tell them that the beast they are scared of is only a dead pilot. His death represents the collapse of morality and reason among the group, giving way to increasing savagery:
"The beast struggled forward, broke the ring and fell over the steep edge of the rock to the sand by the water." (Chapter 9)
Roger
Roger is introduced as a quiet, older boy in the choir. He increasingly displays cruelty and sadistic tendencies, eventually becoming second in command to Jack and his tribe. He displays his first signs of violence when he smashes a sandcastle. However, he hesitates when throwing stones at Henry, one of the littluns, instead throwing them nearby. This shows the lingering influence of societal rules:
"Roger's arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins." (Chapter 4)
Roger displays his sadistic nature when society begins to break down, and he is possibly a sociopath. He enforces Jack's commands, embracing brutality and violence without any restraint or regret:
"Roger advanced upon them as one wielding a nameless authority." (Chapter 11)
His most shocking act is the murder of Piggy, when he rolls a boulder onto him. This underscores the complete collapse of civilisation and morality. Roger then proceeds to capture Sam and Eric, torturing them to reveal the location of Ralph in the jungle. Ultimately, Roger is a warning about the depths of cruelty people are capable of when we are freed from social constraints:
"Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever." (Chapter 11)
Maurice
Maurice gradually shifts from civility to savagery. He is a member of Jack's choir, presented as cheerful and playful: "broad and grinning all the time". Maurice represents how peer pressure can lead us to moral compromise, as he follows Jack's tribe's descent into cruelty and barbarism, without becoming fully evil himself.
He takes part in destroying the littluns' sandcastles, but stops when the child Percival gets sand in his eye. He displays guilt in this early internal conflict:
"Maurice still felt the unease of wrongdoing." (Chapter 4)
However, as Jack's influence grows, Maurice becomes increasingly complicit. He takes part in the hunts and ritual, without questioning their morality. He is also the first to steal fire from Ralph's camp, attacking Piggy and stealing his glasses:
"Maurice pretended to be the pig and ran squealing into the center." (Chapter 9)
The Lord of the Flies
The "Lord of the Flies" is a pig's head that the boys severed after hunting the animal. It is the most explicit symbol of evil and moral corruption. It represents humanity’s inner darkness and "speaks" to Simon, warning him about human nature.
The Lord of the Flies explains to Simon that true evil is not an external force to attack or run away from. Instead, evil is inherent within all of us, lying dormant:
"Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! ... You knew, didn’t you? I'm part of you?" (Chapter 8)
Its grotesque image and chilling conversation with Simon highlight the boys’ descent into savagery, making clear that evil is not an external force but inherent within every individual.
The chilling conversation is made worse by the grotesque description of the pig’s head, swarming with flies. Golding uses this to reinforce decay, corruption and the primal violence the boys have awoken in themselves:
"The pile of guts was a black blob of flies that buzzed like a saw." (Chapter 8)
The Beast
The Beast is an imagined presence on the island. The boys become paranoid during their time in isolation and ignore Ralph when he tries to convince them that this monster doesn't exist. It is a powerful symbol of the boys’ internal fears and the darkness lurking within each person. Initially, the fear of the unknown leads to wild speculations, and Simon suggests that the true beast is within each boy, each with a capacity for savagery:
"What I mean is... maybe it's only us." (Chapter 5, Simon)
This perceptiveness is dismissed, and fear of this imaginary monster drives the boys to irrational and violent actions. Jack gains popularity and power by declaring he will find and kill the beast. This leads him to neglect the smoke signal, which misses the chance at attracting a passing ship:
"We've got to leave part of the kill for the Beast." (Chapter 8, Jack)
Minor Characters
There are minor characters in Lord of the Flies that contribute to Golding’s exploration of human nature and societal collapse.
Sam and Eric (Samneric)
Sam and Eric are twins who are often referred to as one person - "Samneric". They are loyal supporters of Ralph and enthusiastic, often finishing each other's sentences. They refuse to admit to their responsibility in the death of Simon, insisting that they left the dance early.
They continue to tend to the fire and look after the little ones when the boys slowly join Jack's tribe. However, they ultimately succumb to Jack’s violent regime out of fear. This underscores their loss of individuality and moral compromise under pressure:
"Memory of their new and shameful loyalty came to them." (Chapter 12)
Percival Wemys Madison
Percival is one of the youngest boys on the island. He represents innocence and the devastating psychological impact of fear. He is the most scared by his surroundings and is usually crying. Percival often recites his name and address. This is a source of comfort and symbolises a tie to civilisation:
"Percival Wemys Madison. The Vicarage, Harcourt St Anthony, Hants..." (Chapter 5)
By the end of the novel, Percival can't remember this information, so traumatised by what he has witnessed on the island that he can't even remember his name. This illustrates the profound loss of identity and connection when he can't identify himself to the Naval Officer.
The Littluns
The younger children are known by the boys as "littluns". They symbolise the majority within society, who are easily influenced and driven by fear, needing guidance and protection. Their vulnerability and helpfulness are starkly portrayed by Golding, highlighting the importance of strong, yet moral leadership:
"They cried for their mothers much less often than might have been expected." (Chapter 4)
The Naval Officer
The naval officer appears at the end of the novel, when Ralph is fleeing from Jack's tribe. This represents rescue and a return to civilisation. However, Ralph is uncomfortable about his "his filthy appearance", suggesting that his civility has endured his time on the island. The encounter after underscores adult hypocrisy, as the officer is disappointed by the appearance of the boys and their actions:
"I should have thought that a pack of British boys... would have been able to put up a better show than that." (Chapter 12)
His shock at their savagery is particularly hypocritical when considering his involvement in warfare. This reinforces Golding’s critical message about human nature, regardless of the person's age.
Final thoughts
Having a clear understanding of each major character in Lord of the Flies is essential for your GCSE English Literature exams. Each character represents aspects of human nature and society. Through the intellect and rationality of Piggy, the morality of Simon, Roger's cruelty and savagery, Golding presents a powerful message about the fragility of civilisation and the inherent darkness inside of all of us.
To prepare for questions on each character, consider key plot examples and quotes to memorise. For further reading, you can learn about the context of Lord of the Flies by Save My Exams. You can also learn specifically about the impact of World War II on William Golding by Unseen Histories.
If you need further help revising this novel, TeachTutti has GCSE English Literature tutors. Every tutor has an enhanced DBS check and will tailor lessons to your individual needs, such as preparing revision notes.
