The flying figure

[MsElliott]

Why do you think Golding decided to have the “figure” fly over the boys on the beach and into the sea? Why do you think he had Simon‟s body get washed away, and what does this represent in a psychological sense?

[zoel]

I think that Golding made the 'beast' fly off the island because I think he wanted to show what will happen to the boys even when what they fear is gone. The boys have so far kept away from the beast so I doubt they will go back to check it is still there. This means the boys will be worrying over a nonexistent problem. I feel simon was washed away because the spiritually and ration he contained was being washed away and lost from the island. It is also washing away the knowledge that there was nothing to fear and this could lead the boys to spiral down further.

[isabelleewert]

Feb 18, 2015 10:03:28 GMT zoel said:

I think that Golding made the 'beast' fly off the island because I think he wanted to show what will happen to the boys even when what they fear is gone. The boys have so far kept away from the beast so I doubt they will go back to check it is still there. This means the boys will be worrying over a nonexistent problem. I feel simon was washed away because the spiritually and ration he contained was being washed away and lost from the island. It is also washing away the knowledge that there was nothing to fear and this could lead the boys to spiral down further.

I agree, Simon contained that knowledge that there was in fact no beast and it was the boys themselves, as we can clearly see by what they have done to poor Simon.  

[Hope15]

Feb 19, 2015 7:17:39 GMT isabelleewert said:

Feb 18, 2015 10:03:28 GMT zoel said:

I think that Golding made the 'beast' fly off the island because I think he wanted to show what will happen to the boys even when what they fear is gone. The boys have so far kept away from the beast so I doubt they will go back to check it is still there. This means the boys will be worrying over a nonexistent problem. I feel simon was washed away because the spiritually and ration he contained was being washed away and lost from the island. It is also washing away the knowledge that there was nothing to fear and this could lead the boys to spiral down further.

I agree, Simon contained that knowledge that there was in fact no beast and it was the boys themselves, as we can clearly see by what they have done to poor Simon.  

Adding on, Simon was one of the only boys who had still remained fairly civilised throughout this ordeal. He knew things that others didn't, like the beast's true form, and I think the author killed off Simon to show how all civilisation and truth has been wiped off the island. 

[zoewatson]

Feb 18, 2015 10:03:28 GMT zoel said:

I think that Golding made the 'beast' fly off the island because I think he wanted to show what will happen to the boys even when what they fear is gone. The boys have so far kept away from the beast so I doubt they will go back to check it is still there. This means the boys will be worrying over a nonexistent problem. I feel simon was washed away because the spiritually and ration he contained was being washed away and lost from the island. It is also washing away the knowledge that there was nothing to fear and this could lead the boys to spiral down further.

Simon was also the only one of the boys who still remained civilised and had a realistic view of the beastie. Yet at the same time he knew stuf about the beastie that others didn't.

[coreym]

Feb 18, 2015 10:03:28 GMT zoel said:

I think that Golding made the 'beast' fly off the island because I think he wanted to show what will happen to the boys even when what they fear is gone. The boys have so far kept away from the beast so I doubt they will go back to check it is still there. This means the boys will be worrying over a nonexistent problem. I feel simon was washed away because the spiritually and ration he contained was being washed away and lost from the island. It is also washing away the knowledge that there was nothing to fear and this could lead the boys to spiral down further.

I think that is a good point how Simon has washed away so it has also washed away the knowledge that there is nothing to fear. It is sad that perhaps the most civilised boy has now died.

[emah]

Feb 17, 2015 22:31:16 GMT MsElliott said:

Why do you think Golding decided to have the “figure” fly over the boys on the beach and into the sea? Why do you think he had Simon‟s body get washed away, and what does this represent in a psychological sense?

I think Golding had the "figure" fly over the boys so they do not find out it was the beast. Because the boys didn't enter the jungle and follow Simon, they have been left still worrying about a nonexistent physical figure. If it had landed on the Island, the boys could have been reunited with their civilised senses and not murdered Simon. As Simon is washed away, the boys lose one of their most civilised and knowledgable members. Him being lost is like a waste of life because he was unafraid, curious and helpful in various situations for the boys. As he's in the sea now, only the less savage boys will remember him and the others will continue to become more savage.

[lindadate]

Feb 19, 2015 11:05:11 GMT emah said:

Feb 17, 2015 22:31:16 GMT MsElliott said:

Why do you think Golding decided to have the “figure” fly over the boys on the beach and into the sea? Why do you think he had Simon‟s body get washed away, and what does this represent in a psychological sense?

I think Golding had the "figure" fly over the boys so they do not find out it was the beast. Because the boys didn't enter the jungle and follow Simon, they have been left still worrying about a nonexistent physical figure. If it had landed on the Island, the boys could have been reunited with their civilised senses and not murdered Simon. As Simon is washed away, the boys lose one of their most civilised and knowledgable members. Him being lost is like a waste of life because he was unafraid, curious and helpful in various situations for the boys. As he's in the sea now, only the less savage boys will remember him and the others will continue to become more savage.

Also, I think that Simon being washed away symbolises the goodness leaving the boys, leaving only evil and savagery behind.

[stewarts]

Golding decided the have the figure fly over the boys and into the sea to further keep the boys in an ignorant state on what they are doing. With the 'beast' at the top of the mountain gone, there is no way for the boys to find out that they were worried about nothing. With Simon and his knowledge of the real beast washed away, there is no way for him to tell the boys either. This represents that the boys have no escape from being psychologically destroyed on the island, meaning they have no way to avoid becoming crazy.

[lilyklunyk]

Feb 22, 2015 1:22:24 GMT stewarts said:

Golding decided the have the figure fly over the boys and into the sea to further keep the boys in an ignorant state on what they are doing. With the 'beast' at the top of the mountain gone, there is no way for the boys to find out that they were worried about nothing. With Simon and his knowledge of the real beast washed away, there is no way for him to tell the boys either. This represents that the boys have no escape from being psychologically destroyed on the island, meaning they have no way to avoid becoming crazy.

I agree that the boys have no escape from being psychologically destroyed while they remain on the island. It was as if the island was washing away any evidence that proves there isn't a beast, which drains the boys' sanity.

[kate Fincham]

Feb 18, 2015 10:03:28 GMT zoel said:

I think that Golding made the 'beast' fly off the island because I think he wanted to show what will happen to the boys even when what they fear is gone. The boys have so far kept away from the beast so I doubt they will go back to check it is still there. This means the boys will be worrying over a nonexistent problem. I feel simon was washed away because the spiritually and ration he contained was being washed away and lost from the island. It is also washing away the knowledge that there was nothing to fear and this could lead the boys to spiral down further.

I think the use of waves to carry away Simon's body also represents that he is somewhat 'out of sight out of mind.' His Boyd is lost to the ocean, this way the boys don't have to think about him anymore. Also it could represent the lack of civilisation on the island, as our dead are either buried or cremated and none of the biys made any attempt to rescue his body from the waves to give him a proper send off.

[mackenzieg]

Feb 17, 2015 22:31:16 GMT MsElliott said:

Why do you think Golding decided to have the “figure” fly over the boys on the beach and into the sea? Why do you think he had Simon‟s body get washed away, and what does this represent in a psychological sense?

I think Golding has the figure fly overhead so the boys do not find out if it is the beast. With Simons knowledge being washed away with his body and his knowing about what the beast really was, the boys will be trapped by fear because they won't know the truth about the beast because Simon can't explain it to the boys which means that the boys will get consumed by the fear of the beast still, even though none exists. 

[Yor a wizard Harry!! (Ashton)]

Feb 22, 2015 0:43:07 GMT lindadate said:

Feb 19, 2015 11:05:11 GMT emah said:

I think Golding had the "figure" fly over the boys so they do not find out it was the beast. Because the boys didn't enter the jungle and follow Simon, they have been left still worrying about a nonexistent physical figure. If it had landed on the Island, the boys could have been reunited with their civilised senses and not murdered Simon. As Simon is washed away, the boys lose one of their most civilised and knowledgable members. Him being lost is like a waste of life because he was unafraid, curious and helpful in various situations for the boys. As he's in the sea now, only the less savage boys will remember him and the others will continue to become more savage.

Also, I think that Simon being washed away symbolises the goodness leaving the boys, leaving only evil and savagery behind.

I agree with both of you, but i had the thought that perhaps the flying figure represents the power above the boys, a human power that is. But when Simon dies he is taken away by the ocean. The ocean may represent he power of nature. The powers of man Vs the power of nature.  Jack Vs Simon.