Simon — character and symbolic role

Question 2 (10 marks)

How does Golding use Simon to develop themes in Lord of the Flies?

Mark scheme (AO1 + AO2 + AO3, 10 marks):

• Simon as a Christ figure: he is gentle, spiritual, experiences visions; he goes alone into the forest (like Jesus going to pray); he discovers the truth about the beast; he is killed before he can deliver his message of salvation (1–2 marks)
• His vision of the Lord of the Flies (Chapter 8): the pig's head speaks — "I'm part of you... I'm the reason why it's no go... I'm the Beast." This is Golding's central thesis — evil is within; Simon is the only boy who understands this (2 marks)
• His death (Chapter 9): killed during the frenzied ritual dance — the other boys are swept up in a mob ritual; they mistake Simon for the beast; dramatic irony — the true "beast" (the boys' savagery) kills the one boy who understood it (1–2 marks)
• His careful, gentle nature: "he helped the littluns" while others neglected them; he sees beauty in nature that others ignore (1 mark)
• AO3: Christian symbolism — Christ dying before delivering truth; Golding's religious influences; the scapegoat in religious tradition (1–2 marks)