The characterization of Piggy in the novel Lord of the Flies

Essay by theangelHigh School, 12th gradeA+, November 2002

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The Mediator

Marooned on a deserted tropical island in the mid 1940' a challenge faces a group of British schoolboys. While fleeing England the group's plane was shot down killing all adults and authority with it. This forces the boys to rely fully on each other. The character of piggy helps to teach them how to survive in an uncivilized society until the day he dies. To understand the Lord of the Flies, one must understand Piggy, his adult characteristics, and several goals.

Throughout the entire endeavor on the island Piggy is seen as an outcast of society. No one wants him around, and no one sees why anyone even needs him around. However, not on person ever realizes the without Piggy the group may not survive long enough to even get rescued. For example, they may all kill each other before an officer arrives to rescue them. Piggy's main objective during this time may be to, in his own way, keep order and sanity.

Piggy new that if a person wants to get something done that he needs to be firm and frank about what he or she wants. For instance while Ralph and Piggy were arguing, Piggy says to Ralph "You got to be tough now. Make 'em do what you want "(92). This may have shown Ralph that Piggy may actually know what he is talking about since this method was so affective for Piggy with all of the little ones. Many times Piggy would try to reason with all of the boys including Jack when he would say to them, "Which is better- to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph" (180). At this point Piggy new that everyone was turning into savages and he tried...