Lord of the Flies: Piggy Character Analysis (AQA GCSE English Literature) : Revision Note

Piggy represents civilisation and rational thought, but he is bullied horribly and his intelligence and foresight are dismissed because of his working-class origins.

Piggy character summary

Why is Piggy important?

Piggy is the character who most represents the values of civilised society: he prizes rules, knowing that vulnerable members of the group (like him) will be protected by order and shared responsibility. His murder represents the triumph of human evil over this order, and suggests that humans are drawn to savagery over morality and cooperation.

• He believes in reason and rules: Piggy reminds the other boys of the importance of sticking to rules for everyone’s benefit, and reminds Ralph of his responsibilities when Ralph becomes distracted or depressed. He understands the severity of the boys’ situation, and the importance of their working together

• He is responsible for many of the group’s ideas: Piggy establishes the importance of the conch as a symbol of civilised order. It is also his idea to take a register and build shelters. His glasses become important because they allow the boys to make fire

• He is a tragic character: Piggy is bullied awfully by the other boys; we never learn his real name, and only know him by the cruel label that Ralph gives him. He is the repeated victim of violence. Despite this, he tries to establish rules that help everyone, and is killed while appealing to the hunters’ better natures

Piggy Language Analysis

The language spoken by, or used to describe Simon, is often prophetic or packed with religious symbolism that relates to Golding’s message about humanity’s tendency towards savagery:

• Working-class dialect: Piggy is from a working-class background, and despite his good ideas he is treated by other boys as lower in status; even Ralph mocks his accent: “sucks to your ass-mar”.

• Language of civilisation and reasoning: Piggy sees rules and logical actions as the foundations of working society, and believes that “Life […] is scientific“. He also knows that democracy and civilised values are all that protect him and the weaker members of the group from the boys’ savage natures.

• Represents the battle of ideas on the island: Golding uses Piggy to pose a central question: “Which is better — to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?” Piggy gives voice to the battle of ideas that is waging on the island between order and disorder, and between civilised and uncivilised society.

Piggy key quotes

Piggy character development

Piggy character interpretation

Reason and rational thought versus savagery

Golding uses Piggy as a mouthpiece for rational thought. This is best demonstrated when Piggy insists that “life is scientific” when faced with the increasing superstitious hysteria of the group when they insist they are being haunted by a “Beast”. He states clearly — when even Ralph and Jack are beginning to believe in the reality of a monster on the island — that “I know there isn’t no beast” and even has the insight to suggest that “there isn’t no fear, either… Unless we get frightened of people”.

Unlike many of the other boys, whom Golding uses to represent the unthinking and superstitious masses, Piggy recognises that really what the boys should fear is themselves, and the dark side of human nature. Sadly, his concerns are proved true when Jack’s hunters give in to their violent desires. Roger, one of Jack’s tribe, kills Piggy with a boulder at Castle Rock, and Piggy’s death can be seen as the death of reason and any hope for civilisation on the island.