What is lord of the flies parachute man?


The parachutist is a significant, albeit deceased, character in William Golding's Lord of the Flies. He represents the adult world and its descent into chaos and war.

  • The Backstory: The parachutist is a dead pilot, presumably killed during an ongoing war referenced throughout the novel. His body becomes tangled in the island's trees near the mountain top.

  • The Symbolism: He symbolizes the failure of the adult world and the pervasive nature of violence and fear, even in a seemingly isolated environment. He is a tangible representation of the "beast" that the boys project their fears onto. This is because the boys are afraid of the things the adult world has done to them, even if they don't know it.

  • The Boys' Perception: The wind causes the parachutist's body to shift and flap, leading the boys to mistake him for a monstrous "beast." This fear fuels their descent into savagery. Specifically, the twins Sam and Eric see the body and describe the “beast”, which further intensifies the boys’ paranoia.

  • The Importance of the Parachute: The parachute itself is also symbolic. It represents a potential for rescue and connection to the outside world, but it's ultimately useless in the boys' current state. The parachute can be seen as hope, but also a false hope.

  • Piggy's Insights: Only <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Piggy's%20insights">Piggy</a> and, to a lesser extent, Simon, are able to rationalize and suggest that the "beast" is something internal, a product of their own fear and savagery. The boys never listen to Piggy because he is not a hunter.

  • Simon's Discovery: <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Simon's%20Discovery">Simon</a> eventually discovers the truth about the parachutist's body. However, his attempt to share this knowledge with the other boys leads to his tragic death, as they mistake him for the beast in their frenzied state.

  • The Resolution: At the end of the book, the officer, representing the adult world, sees the boys as playing a game, tragically overlooking the significance of the events that transpired. The boys are "saved", but for what reason? To go back to the world where the parachute man came from?