Piggy Flashcards
“The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.”
Throughout the book, Piggy has been a symbol of intelligence while the conch has symbolized order. In this quote, Roger rolled over a boulder off of Castle Rock and onto Piggy, causing the conch shell to shatter and Piggy to fall 40 feet to his death. The part of the quote that says “ceased to exist” is connecting to the order of the conch and intelligence of Piggy. This important quote is explaining that the order, intelligence and what little civilization the boys had left “ceased to exist” along with Piggy and the conch. It shows how much Piggy represents intelligence and order and the little order that was left is gone.
‘Can’t catch me breath. I was the only boy in our school what had athsma,’ said the fat boy with a touch of pride.’
Piggy’s ‘pride’ in being the only boy with asthma at his school shows his naivety because he doesn’t view it as a weakness. This links to survival of the fittest. His language also provides clues to his upbringing and class (likely working class). At the time the novel was written most power was still in the hands of the middle and upper classes and there was little movement between classes. This could foreshadow Piggy’s lack of power.
‘Piggy was so full of delight and expanding liberty in Jack’s departure, so full of pride in his contribution to the good of society, that he helped to fetch wood.’
Now that Jack has left Piggy feels free and as if he is recognised by the group more so than when Jack was there. Many of Piggy’s actions are motivated by his desire to be accepted by the rest of the boys.
