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Simon in Lord of the Flies


            In William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies, one of the characters sticks out as a complex character throughout the entire story. The novel takes place during a nuclear war when a group of schoolboys find themselves stranded on a tropical island without any adults. Simon is younger than the protagonist, but older than the smaller boys. He's pure, gentle, wise, kind, and has the most positive outlook out of all the boys on the island. He repeats several times that they will get rescued even when the protagonist Ralph, is strongly doubting the possibility. Simon is seen as a Christ figure throughout the novel. A Christ figure is a literary technique that is used to draw allusions between biblical characters and Jesus Christ. Simon's character is parallel to Simon Peter, Moses, and Christ in the bible. .
             In the beginning of the novel, Simon displays an image of selfless caring by helping a few of the younger boys, also known as the "littluns" by the older boys, reach for fruit hanging from a high branch. Golding writes, "Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless outstretched hands" (Golding 56). Simon, performing this act of kindness, shows his generosity and unselfishness. "The figure of Christ is commonly conflated with that of any especially spiritual character – anyone who evidences saintliness, selflessness, and undiscriminating love for his fellow creature" (Kruger 1). Simon the character is similar to the Apostle Simon Peter. Simon Peter's image of selfless caring is shown in a conversation between him and Jesus. "Jesus saith to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?' He saith unto him, 'Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee' He saith unto him, Feed my lambs" (John 21:15). This image of Simon helping the younger boys reach the fruit is similar to the nurturing of Christ's apostle Simon Peter.


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