William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” abounds with symbols. Piggy is the most important. Piggy is a symbol of wisdom, intelligence, and power among the children on the island. He is often undermined because of his obesity, “ass-mar”, myopia, and lack of physical ability.
Piggy is different from the rest of the boys in physical appearance. His wispy hair and glasses make him seem older than he really is. As the days pass, the other boys hair grow longer and Piggy’s seems to thin. “Piggy’s hair still lay in wisps over his head as though baldness were his natural state, and this imperfect covering would soon go, like the velvet on a young stag’s antlers” (Golding). Golding uses this similie to give imagery on how Piggy is gaining wisdom through his experience and insight on the island. When Jack suggests that all the children should go to the mountain create a smoke signal, without any hesitation and order, the children run rapidly up the mountain to collect fire wood. Frustrated at their impulsiveness, Piggy states the children are acting “like a crowd of kids” (Golding). Piggy doesn’t fit in with the other children because he is more mature than they are. As for Piggy’s knowledge, he believed they should do things the way adults would do, “they’d meet and have tea and discuss,” while the other children play and have fun (Golding 94). It is Piggy who discovers the conch and knows that it has the power to unite the children of the island and bring them together. With the conch, Piggy wants to establish rules and order, like that of a civilization. Even though it is Ralph who is chosen as leader, Piggy gives Ralph advice and helps him lead in pressing situations. “Ralph alone recognizes his superior intelligence, but wavers between what he knows to be wise and group acceptance” (Rosenfield).
Piggy’s “ass-mar” is a big disability. His Aunt refrained him from things normal boys would do, and he stayed in bed because of his condition. “I been in bed so much I done...