In literature, an allegory is a figure of speech or narrative that describes an abstract idea or event. The purpose of an allegory is to teach or to explain an important moral principle.
Below, I present some quotes that refer to a religious allegory.
"So remember. The rocks for a lavatory. Keep the fire going and smoke showing as a signal. Don't take fire from the mountain. Take your food up there." (chapter 5)
"Look at us! How many are we? And yet we can't keep a fire going to make smoke. Don't you understand? Can't you see we ought to—ought to die before we let the fire out?" (chapter 5)
For perhaps ten seconds they crouched like that while the flailing fire sent smoke and sparks and waves of inconstant light over the top of the mountain. Then as though they had but one terrified mind between them they scrambled away over the rocks and fled. (chapter 6)
In the above quotes, Ralph tells the boys not to "take fire from the mountain." They are, however, to "keep the fire going" on top of the mountain and to ensure that smoke continues to rise as a signal. The quotes reference the abstract idea of a theophany. A theophany is the visible revelation of a deity to human beings.
There a few theophanies in the Old Testament. In the book of Exodus (chapter 3), God appears to Moses in the form of a burning bush on top of Mount Horeb. God then orders Moses to take off his shoes, explaining that the latter is standing on holy ground. Like Moses (who initially fears the burning bush), the boys flee before the flailing fire and smoke.
In Exodus chapter 13, God appears as a pillar of fire at night, serving as protection for the Israelites.
Later, in the nineteenth chapter of Exodus, a theophany occurs on top of Mount Sinai. God descends in fire and envelops the entire mountain in smoke. Again, the mountain becomes sacred ground. Mount Sinai is also where Moses receives the Ten Commandments from God. So, the Israelites promise to obey God in return for protection against their enemies.
The quotes from chapters 5 and 6 reference the allegorical idea of smoke and fire on a mountain as the ultimate means of salvation. Ralph (standing in place of a prophet) insists that the fire must be kept going at all times. He is adamant that the boys must resist "taking" the fire from the mountain. Instead, they are to ascend it in order to make their fires. So, the mountain is set aside (sacred) for only one purpose.
The boys are to listen to Ralph because he is their leader. Just like Moses, Ralph presents himself as the voice of reason.
Ralph believes that the fire and smoke will alert passing ships and save the boys from a seemingly inevitable fate: extinction and the tragedy of being forgotten by the rest of humanity. The idea of fire and smoke on a mountain as a means of salvation can be found in the theophanies of the Old Testament.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
What quotes in Lord of the Flies show religious allegory in chapter 5 or 6?
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