Symbols are important to many people because it is a representation of their individuality. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the conch shell is a representation of the leadership in society. The conch shell is used to speak during the meeting on the island. He who holds the conch is the leader. Throughout the novel, a few people get a hold of the conch and either use it speaks or take over.
             Power can always be he most unexpected thing. "Let him be chief with the trumpet thing" (p19). Piggy says this because he believes that Ralph should be the leader. There is a reason for this. It is because Ralph has the conch. They found it before they called the other boys.
             Just about any object you pick up can be a symbol for something. "The conch. I got a right to speak" (p40). On the island, the boys can speak to one another. But if there is an announcement to be made, then the conch is needed. They need the conch to make a speech to the entire tribe. It starts to represent power and authority.
             As quickly as things rise, they can fall. "There isn't a tribe any more! The conch is gone-"(p167). Earlier in the story, Jack was humiliated because he was denied leadership of the tribe. He then created his own tribe. During this period, the death of Simon and Piggy occur and the conch is destroyed. When the conch is destroyed, it basically means that Ralph's power has fallen.
             Throughout the novel, a few people get a hold of the conch and either use it speak or take over. With the rise of power and the fall of power, the conch was involved in all of it. Strangely enough, the story somewhat relates to today's world. The question though is will today's world end up just like the boys?
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