Latent in every man, there resides a demonic force. This so-called force is generally kept in check by the rational part of human nature, but in the absence of reason or social pressure, it breaks out in barbaric bloodletting. William Golding said this and displayed his beliefs in his novel, The Lord of the Flies. The boys start out very much civilized, but by the time of their rescue, have lost all hope of order. Golding uses many symbols in his novel to represent the deterioration of order and civilization. Some of the main characters he uses to show this include Percival Wemys Madison, Ralph, Jack Merridew, and Piggy. Golding shows his readers that a world without order is a world full of chaos. Percival Wemys Madison is one of the “littluns” in the novel. Throughout the novel, Golding uses Percival to show the different stages of the deteriorating civilization. At the beginning when Piggy is collecting names, Percival stands up and recites his name, address, and telephone number. This is symbolic of the fact that civilization is still present. Later, Percival is again asked for his name. He stands and begins with, ‘“Percival Wemys Madison. The Vicarage, Harcourt St. Anthony, Hants, telephone, telephone, tele-’” (86). The fact that Percival can not remember his telephone number is a symbol of the society breaking apart. When the boys are finally rescued, Percival runs to the officer, looks up and says, “‘I’m, I’m-”’ (201). At the end all hope of civilization is lost, Percival can not remember anything. Golding also uses Ralph to show society breaking apart. Throughout the novel Ralph tries to establish and encourage order and a plan for rescue. Ralph calls a meeting, and when he is chosen to be chief, he decides to establish rules. The first rule that Ralph comes up with is to “‘give the conch to the next person to speak. He ca...
