Theme of Civilization/Order vs. Savagery/Chaos in Lord of the Flies Essay Example

Lastly, the theme of civilization/order vs. savagery/chaos is evident when Piggy dies and the conch is broken. Specifically, at the end of the novel, Roger leans on a lever, purposefully causing a rock to fall on Piggy and the conch. The conch is the symbol of civilization on the island. Jack then tells the boys that he is chief because the conch is broken and has ceased to exist. The narrator reveals, 

The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist…Piggy’s arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig’s after it has been killed…, the body of Piggy was gone.

This time the silence was complete. Ralph’s lips formed a word but no sound came.

Suddenly Jack bounded out from the tribe and began screaming wildly. “See? See? That’s what you’ll get! I meant that! There isn’t a tribe for you any more! The conch is gone—”

He ran forward, stooping.

“I’m chief!” (259-260) 

Essentially, when the narrator first states that the “conch exploded into a thousand white fragments” this shows the theme of civilization/order vs. savagery/chaos because the boys are progressively becoming more savage in their way of life. Because the conch was able to break so easily, it shows how their savage ways were taking over. Also, when “Ralph's lips formed a word but no sound came out” this shows civilization/order vs. savagery/chaos because the death of Piggy impacted the civilization on the island greatly and implies that Ralph was upset but still civilized by this incident. Piggy and Ralph were together the whole time on the island. With Piggy dying, it left Ralph by himself with the savage boys. Piggy and Ralph had similar civilized ways of life, and when Piggy died, none of the boys wanted to follow his way of life. Additionally, when Jack began “screaming wildly” this shows the theme of civilization/order vs. savagery/chaos because typically, when death occurs people don’t act wildly instead, one would act sorrowfully. Everyone else was silent besides Jack; which shows how he isn’t civilized in the ways of processing emotions. Lastly, when Jack was telling the other boys they would die if they didn't obey his thoughts of how the island should be run, it shows the theme of civilization/order vs. savagery/chaos because he is uncivilized and isn’t willing to listen to the opinions of others. Typically, in human nature when we experience death, there are some upset emotions even if we may not have known the person for very long. When Jack doesn’t express those feelings, it shows he is becoming more savage and less civilized the longer he is on the island along with some of the other boys.