Archetypal+Characters

 Golding’s //Lord of the Flies// is a symbolic and complex novel. The purpose of this novel is to portray the civilized and primitive characteristics that mankind posses. The purpose is achieved through the use of archetypal characterization which gives a description of the different sides of human nature (also serves to portray conflict between the journey of man towards civilization).
 * The Hero (protagonist): The courageous individual who is always saving the day (a warrior, a lover, transcendent, apocalyptic, super-heroic).
 * The Villain (antagonist): An evil character.
 * The Outcast: someone who has left, or has been cast out of society (usually considered a Christ-like figure).
 * The Mentor: An older, wise teacher who serves as the parental figure. Provides the hero with gifts (weapons, information.
 * The Star-crossed Lovers: usually a young couple that is joined by love, yet separated by fate.

**__Simon is the outcast (the christ-like figure):__** - “He walked with an accustomed tread through the acres of fruit trees, where the least energetic could find an easy if unsatisfying meal. Flower and fruit grew together on the same tree and everywhere was the scent of ripeness and the booming of million bees at pasture. Here the littluns who had run after him caught up with him. They talked, cried out unintelligibly, lugged him toward the trees. Then, amid the roar of bees in the afternoon sunlight, 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. When he had satisfied them he paused and looked round. The littluns watched him inscrutably over double handfuls of ripe fruit. Simon turned away from them and went where the just perceptible path led him. Soon high jungle closed in.”. “He came at last to a place where more sunshine fell.”... “Then he bent down and wormed his way into the center of the mat.” ... “When he was secure in the middle he was in a little cabin screened off from the open space by a few leaves.” ... “Holding his breath he cocked a critical ear at the sounds of he island.” (Golding V, 89).  - “Simon’s head was tilted slightly up. His eyes could not break away and the Lord of the Flies hung in space before him. [What are you doing out here all alone? Aren’t you afraid of me?] Simon shook. [There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the beast.] Simon’s mouth labored, brought forth audible words. [Pig’s head on a stick.] [Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could haunt and kill!] said the head. For a moment or two the forest and the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter. [You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?] The laughter shivered again. [Come now,] said the Lord of the Flies. [Get back to the others and we’ll forget the whole thing] Simon’s head wobbled. His eyes were half closed as though he were imitating the obscene thing on the stick. He knew that one of his times was coming. The lord of the Flies expanded as a balloon. [This is ridiculous. You know perfectly well you’ll only meet me down there - so don’t try to escape]. (Golding VII, 143).

- “The usual brightness was gone from his eyes and he walked with a sort of glum determination like an old man. A buffet of wind made him stagger and he saw that he was out in the open, on rock under a brassy sky.”... “He pushed himself forward and the wind came again, stronger now, cuffing the forest heads till they ducked and roared. Simon saw a humped thing suddenly sit up on the top and look down at him. he hid his face, and toiled on. The flies had found the figure too. The life-like movement would scare them off for a moment so that they made a dark cloud round the head.” ... “He crawled forward and soon he understood. The tangle of lines showed him the mechanics of this parody; he examined the white nasal nones, the teeth, the colors of corruption.” ... “As Simon thought this, he turned to the poor broken thing that sat sinking by his side. The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible.” (Golding IIIV, 146).  In //Lord of the Flies//, Simon serves as the christ-like figure because he represents a human goodness that is connected with nature. Nature within the novel serves as a sanctuary for him away from the other boys (in this case society) is given a garden of eden state. Unlike some of the other boys, Simon shows morality because he believes in it not out of guilt. His goodness is apparent when he behaves kindly toward’s the littluns. He becomes the first to realize that the beast does not exist, but is rather the savagery that deep within human impulse. He discovery later leads him to his destruction because once the road to civilization is paved the dark side of human nature steps in. His discovery portrays the primitive characteristics of mankind because it shows that there is an inherent evil within everyone. Simon brings a contrasting ideal because he is the essential human goodness which portrays civilized characterization. His murder shows that savagery comes between man's journey towards civilization.