Simon and Jesus Comparison in Lord of the Flies (6 Pages with Works Cited)
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Parallels Between the Lives of Simon and Jesus Christ in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies First published in 1954 Lord of the Flies received some of the best reviews of any first novel of its time. This book is full of symbolism, still applicable today. In this essay will look at the similarities between the characteristics of Simon and Jesus and the similar events and the surrounding circumstances.
Similarities of Characteristics One of the central themes in Golding’s Lord of the Flies is the presence of a ‘Christ-like’ figure, Simon. Golding reveals similarities between Simon, one of the choir-boys , and Jesus Christ as the novel progresses. This section will take a look at three of the main similarities. These similarities being: periodic social withdrawal, a selfless attitude, and an understanding of things as a whole. Simon is often said to go to “A place in the jungle.”(Golding 85) to be alone. In the same way, Jesus “often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.”(New Living Translation, Luke 5:16). Both would willingly withdraw themselves, to be alone. Even though Simon is eventually rejected by Jack, self proclaimed leader of the choir turned hunters; he shows acceptance is not his top priority when he continues to withdraw from the others despite what they think. Both Jesus and Simon display their selflessness by going out of their way to help others. Simon stayed to help Ralph, the elected chief of the island, build huts when all of the other boys had left. Shortly after, Simon again displays his selflessness when he fed the littluns: “Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless outstretched hands. When he had satisfied them he paused...” (Golding 56)
Simon was not at all required to perform this service, yet he did. Even going as far as giving them the best he could give. Jesus’ whole life was spent in
Teacher
CLass
Date here
Parallels Between the Lives of Simon and Jesus Christ in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies First published in 1954 Lord of the Flies received some of the best reviews of any first novel of its time. This book is full of symbolism, still applicable today. In this essay will look at the similarities between the characteristics of Simon and Jesus and the similar events and the surrounding circumstances.
Similarities of Characteristics One of the central themes in Golding’s Lord of the Flies is the presence of a ‘Christ-like’ figure, Simon. Golding reveals similarities between Simon, one of the choir-boys , and Jesus Christ as the novel progresses. This section will take a look at three of the main similarities. These similarities being: periodic social withdrawal, a selfless attitude, and an understanding of things as a whole. Simon is often said to go to “A place in the jungle.”(Golding 85) to be alone. In the same way, Jesus “often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.”(New Living Translation, Luke 5:16). Both would willingly withdraw themselves, to be alone. Even though Simon is eventually rejected by Jack, self proclaimed leader of the choir turned hunters; he shows acceptance is not his top priority when he continues to withdraw from the others despite what they think. Both Jesus and Simon display their selflessness by going out of their way to help others. Simon stayed to help Ralph, the elected chief of the island, build huts when all of the other boys had left. Shortly after, Simon again displays his selflessness when he fed the littluns: “Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless outstretched hands. When he had satisfied them he paused...” (Golding 56)
Simon was not at all required to perform this service, yet he did. Even going as far as giving them the best he could give. Jesus’ whole life was spent in
Cited: Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: The Berkley Group, 1954 The Rock, NLT ed. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale Inc., 1998