Why is Piggy such an important symbol in the book, and what is the significance of Simon in relation to the Lord of the Flies?

Piggy and Simon are important characters not just for the development of the plot of Lord of the Fliesbut also as characters who represent a larger concept. Piggy represents intelligence and technology, but he also represents marginalized people who are easily victimized in a less enlightened society. Piggy is by far the most intellectually superior boy on the island. He is the one who has the idea to call the other boys with the...

Piggy and Simon are important characters not just for the development of the plot of Lord of the Flies but also as characters who represent a larger concept. Piggy represents intelligence and technology, but he also represents marginalized people who are easily victimized in a less enlightened society. Piggy is by far the most intellectually superior boy on the island. He is the one who has the idea to call the other boys with the conch, and he alone has the "intellectual daring" to consider building the signal fire on the beach when the "beast" prevents them from tending it on the mountain. His glasses symbolize intellect but also science and technology; they give the boys the ability to create fire. Still, Piggy is mocked and bullied by the boys, especially Jack. Because Piggy has asthma and is overweight, Jack chooses him to pick on, often telling him to shut up and charging into his stomach and breaking his glasses.

Simon represents the sensitive, insightful, or spiritual person or part of society. Like the other easily victimized people, spiritually sensitive people are often dismissed and/or ridiculed by many people in a society. The boys often remark that Simon is "batty" or "crazy." Simon is the one who recognizes "mankind's essential illness" and suggests about the beast that "maybe it's only us." This earns him scorn. When he has a vision of the Lord of the Flies, it confirms what he has already discerned, namely that the "beast" is the tendency toward evil that resides inside every person. Unfortunately, Simon's revelation is not useful to any of the other boys; they end up killing him before he can get them to understand. In this way Simon is a Christ-figure; he is killed by those he is trying to enlighten.