The Use of Simile in Chapter 2 of “Lord of the Flies”: Reflecting the Struggle to Face Reality

Facing reality is a reasonably difficult task for everybody to go through. What’s so significant about the novel, “Lord of the Flies,” written by author William Golding, is that a group of young boys get to face and feel how tremendous being alone and stranded on a capsized island surrounded by nothing but the ocean is. Even though the young boys were able to take control and act responsibly during certain situations, facing reality is a major part of chapters one and two because having to take action as children and having to depend on themselves is challenging.

The tone is one prime aspect of chapters one and two. For instance, the author wrote, “Ralph wiped the salt water off his lips and tried again, but the shell remained silent” ( page 17 ). This quote demonstrates Ralph is doing anything possible to get anyone’s attention who is out in the humongous jungle. Even though Ralph started to lose hope, someone emerged out of the jungle. To back up this claim, the author states, “A child had appeared among the palms, about a hundred yards along the breach” ( page 17 ). 

This quote could represent a hopeful tone. Even though they know they might not get rescued right away, they have hope. Additionally, the author states, “All the same, you need an army – for hunting” ( page 32 ). The quote displays actions that need to be taken if they wanna survive on the island; they realize help might not come as soon as possible. So, the tone of this quote could be critical since they know without food or water, they have a chance of dying, and that is one problem that everyone on the island would face if no action were to be taken.

Simile in Chapter 2 of  “Lord of the Flies”

Even though tone is a large aspect of chapter one and two, so is figures of speech. For instance, the author states, “All around him, the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat” ( page 7 ). The quote is an example of a metaphor because it states two nonsimilar things that have something in common in a way. Another example of a metaphor is, “He was clambering heavily among the creepers and broken trunks when a bird, a vision of red and yellow, flashed upwards witch-like cry” ( page 7 ). 

There were also many examples of similes in chapter 2, the author states, “For yards round the fire that heat was like a blow, and the breeze was a river of sparks” ( page 41 ). The saying “heat was like a blow” is a comparison with the word “like.” Lastly, the author uses a simile on page 43, “a tree exploded in a fire like a bomb” This comparison is between the tree and a bomb.

Overall, “Lord of the Flies” represents each character has the power to act responsibly and efficiently even though many don’t throughout the novel. Facing reality hit them hard, knowing help wasn’t right away, many did possible to survive on the island. During situations like this, everyone needs to understand help or hope won’t always come at the snap of a finger, but we as people need to work together to help each other through the dark times.

Reference

1. Golding, W. (1954). Lord of the Flies. Faber & Faber.

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