Simon, A Symbol of Virtue

In William Golding's story of Lord of the Flies, the character of Simon is significant. Simon represents a certain type of inherent kindness. He is insightful, helpful, and truth-seeking at all times. He was the lone boy and was the first to realize that the beast was a delusion. He works persistently and for the benefit of the tribe. Being a shy child, he finds it difficult to share his intelligent thoughts with the other boys since he dislikes speaking in front of the group at assemblies.

Simon, as mentioned, "was a skinny, vivid boy," and had "straight hair that hung down, black and coarse." Simon was also scorched by the sun to a deep tan that shined with sweat, and his eyes were constantly darker in color. "His chin pointed, and his eyes so bright." Even though Simon was still a little boy, he is the strongest and most intelligent of the group.

The literary work Lord of the Flies by William Golding, through the skill of his portrayal, offers a sharp insight into human nature. Simon is not like the other boys as he stands on a separate plane than all the other characters in the book such as including Jack and Ralph. Simon stands in for Golding's idealized future self in terms of humanism and rationality. Simon is hence greater than all the other characters.

Simon is a symbol of saintliness and an inborn, spiritual human virtue that has a strong bond with the natural world. The other characters in the book are not inherently moral. They have been socialized to act morally in the adult world by being threatened with consequences for wrongdoing. They give up moral conduct as soon as society no longer forces it upon them.

First to realize that something is wrong on the island, Simon believes that the nightmares the younger boys are having prove that the place is not a safe. He frequently isolates himself from the other kids by hiding in a "cabin" made of shrubs and creepers because of his actions, which make him stand out to them as "funny." During a meeting, he finds the confidence to discuss the beast.

What distinguishes Simon from the other boys is his innate insight. Knowing that there is no beast, only them, and that the boys have fears of themselves, his intellect enables him to discern the boys' fear. Simon makes an effort to convince the lads that the beast may not actually exist and that it may instead reside solely inside them. Even though they think Simon is "batty," the majority of the boys appear to get along with him. The character in Lord of the Flies with the most enigma is Simon. When the other boys mistreat Piggy, Simon stands up for him and assists Ralph with the shelters.

In the novel, Simon is presented as a saint. There are several proofs that Simon is a saint. He gives Piggy his meal at the feast when no one else would, and he gathers fruit for others who are unable to reach the branches bearing fruit. When Jack hits Piggy on the head, he picks up Piggy's spectacles and hands them to him. Only Simon, out of all the other kids on the island, behaves morally, not because he feels guilty or ashamed, but because it is in his nature. Like a saint, his love for the other lads never diminishes. William Golding views Simon as a saint, saying of him: "Simon is a Christ-figure...a lover of mankind, a visionary."

He sometimes finds it difficult to communicate his ideas and feelings; one of his best examples is when he wants to show Ralph how much he cares but simply and modestly stroke his arm. He finds it difficult to voice his opinions, and the other boys frequently make fun of him when he tries to tell the group things he knows but they are blind to.

Simon, when human nature's goodness governs our actions, we are heroic since our nature has once allowed us to produce so many wonders but when human nature's wickedness takes control, we are ill. Unlike the other boys, Simon has felt not only the history and reality of humans, but also the philosophy of human nature. More significant is the fact that Simon, by himself, uses his inner vision to climb the mountain and investigate the evil without thinking that he would lose his life or anything else.

While Simon is unable to properly inform the boys of what he discovered, Golding still uses Simon to warn and enlighten the reader. The realization is that humans are sick, and the primary means of saving the planet is through natural kindness.