William Golding’s masterful use of symbolism is exemplified in his book Lord of the Flies, in which he uses masks to represent . These masks come in many forms, and by careful study of events throughout Golding’s novel, one discovers their significance. Physical masks are used by many characters such as Jack and Piggy, and they are perhaps the least ambiguous forms found in the book. The idea of a mask encompasses more than just these literal interpretations, however. Metaphorical masks are used in abundance throughout the book, and much can be revealed about the characters based on how or if they chose to wear their masks. The significance of these masks is also tied closely to the theme stating Man’s heart is evil.
One of the most significant forms of a mask is that of darkness. When the sun is down, people feel more vulnerable and fearful. This may empower others and drive them to either take advantage of this fear or protect their integrity with bravery. In the case of this book, Jack can often be seen using fear to take advantage of the other boys. This is because they show signs of being scared of a beast, and during the night boys often get scared. “Even the sounds of nightmare from the other shelters no longer reached” (Golding 107) Ralph, meaning fear must be very common. Jack knows this, and gains support and fame by putting forth an effort to kill, appease, and provide protection from the beast. This mixed reaction of dealing with the beast demonstrates Jack’s ability to morph this mask to set the stage for effective manipulation. The success of this tactic is gradual as the boys slowly loosen their grasp on reasonable thinking, and nearly everyone succumbs to it in the end.
Baring the mask of darkness can be humiliating and shameful as well. Ralph does not take his role as Chief lightly, and he knows, based on the fact that the boys are becoming more savage with time, that showing fear would hurt his image. The boys take meetings less seriously as time progresses, and the world they once knew, “that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away” (Golding, 98). When he finally believes there is a beast, he attempts to show no outward signs of fear towards it. When Ralph is up on the mountain in search of the beast with Jack and Roger, he demonstrates his mindset. Out of desperation to seem respectable to the other boys, he “fused his fear and loathing into a hatred, and stood up” (Golding 135) in front of the beast. Furthermore, being labelled a coward is unfavourable regardless of one’s role in a group for social reasons. Hiding insecurities like these-- presented by the mask of darkness-- with bravery is an expedient way of dealing with the fear this mask presents.
Not all masks are metaphorical, however. Golding uses several physical masks that carry with them much symbolism and importance. Jack creates a mask early on in the novel by painting his face with clay. Immediately after the application of this paint, he breaks out into a psychotic, “bloodthirsty snarling” (Golding 66) of laughter and dance. This mask allows him to truly break free from his ties to civilized society by providing his mind a clean tablet of clay. His outer thoughts, now unshielded by his true identity, stray into the exciting forbidden territory of primal savagery and become impressed upon the slate. He then takes up this persona as his primary identity and with it accelerates the degradation of the civilized ideology with which the boys arrived at the island.
In direct contrast with this destructive and violent mask, Piggy keeps with him a very important item throughout most of his time on the island. It represents a potential means of rescue and intelligence, and therefore a connection to normal society. Very early on, it is discovered that Piggy’s glasses can start fires. Piggy became important at this point and for the first time was not just a means of entertainment. With his glasses, a signal fire could be made, connecting the boys to civilization in some way and providing them hope. When worn, Piggy clearly remembers the goals set forth from their first few days on the island, and their importance. Should the boys show any signs of forgetting or straying from the rescue plan, Piggy would always be there to remind them. Even when Ralph fell silent for a moment, forgetting why fire was so important, Piggy remained vigilant and whispered to him, “rescue” (Golding 156). When his glasses are taken away, his source of confidence and intelligence immediately vanish, leaving behind a scared and vulnerable child. During the meeting following the theft of his glasses, his speaking effectiveness shrinks drastically. He complains about his glasses and Jack, doesn’t come up with any good ideas to confront Jack with, and finishes his speech “trembling.... and [wiping] tears from his eyes” (Golding 190).
There exists a physical mask that is far more subtle than these examples, however. Hair length is quietly mentioned intermittently through the book, and it may seem unimportant at first due to its layered meanings. On its surface, hair symbolizes the passage of time. Golding infers length in his writing which corresponds to an arbitrary amount of time. Roger’s hair, for instance, is described as being “low on his forehead...” (Golding 63), indicating that time has passed. Hair length also relates to how far an individual is from the accepted ideals of society. In the same passage it is said that Roger’s hair “seemed to suit his gloomy face” (Golding 63) and created a taboo around him, giving him a look thought of to be “forbidding” (Golding 63). This means the boys associate hair with significant aspects of personality, and the way Roger is described is quite uncivilized at this point. Piggy, on the other hand, “was the only boy on the island whose hair never seemed to grow...” (Golding 67). This is because his mind is very unique in that it is unwilling to forget about his old life, and because of this Piggy is the only boy who does not compromise his beliefs over time and grow savage. In this regard, hair masks the boys from a civilized thought-process. Ralph’s mask of hair advances gradually, but he is able to deter it and retain his morals. At his turning point, he “understood how much he disliked perpetually flicking the tangled hair out of his eyes...” (Golding, 82). This shows that he has become aware of this blind tribal uprising, and by pushing the mask away he can think clearly and get a grasp on reality.
Hair length may then be said to directly relate to each boy’s personality. Likewise, darkness and the various physical masks also directly influence the workings of the boys’ minds. These symbols have such a large impact that the theme of the book would not be effectively conveyed without them. The impact of the theme, suggesting that there is potential for evil within every human being, would be diminished without the audience being able to look closely into the minds of the characters. Golding’s use of masks accomplishes just that, creatively implementing an interesting plot device that makes The Lord of the Flies a thoroughly engaging read.