Photo Montage

The mask is a symbol of Jack's violent character. In chapter 4, Jack put on a camouflage by painting his face and in the sense, compelled by the mask. The mask is significant as it symbolises Jack concealing his original identity and to take on a new role: a hunter. It allowed Jack to escape from his original identity and to see the savagery side of his nature. Jack and the boys eventually succeeded in killing a pig and this shows civilisation leaving the boys and is replaced by violence and savagery. Therefore, the mask is significant as it shows how the boys, especially Jack could take on his new identity and to witness their change with civilisation leaving them.

The conch is a symbol of rules and order in Lord of the Flies. In the novel, Ralph made the rule that the boys have to listen to the person holding on to the conch. This is a symbol of law and order as the boys would respect the one holding the conch by listening to what he had to say and not engage in any forms of personal conversations or interrupt the speaker. However, when Piggy holds the conch, the other boys would tend to interrupt him and even neglect the fact that the one holding the conch has the right to speak and not to be interrupted. This is a sign of civilisation fading from the boys as they gradually forget the law and order that was intended to be imposed through actions such as bullying Piggy and ignoring what he said.