The character of Simon in William Goldings Lord of the Flies has often been viewed as the Christ figure of the novel. If you were to examine the actions of both Simon and Jesus, you would find a number of incidents that parallel each other. One of the first things that Simon does that depicts a Christ-like action, is found in chapter 3 when he helps the littluns get fruit, Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach (Golding 56). During his lifetime, Jesus often aided the hungry, one example being when he turned 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish into enough food for thousands of people.
Later in the chapter Simon finds himself in the wilderness. While there, Simon was calm and enjoyed the solitude of his surroundings; He came at last to a place where more sunshine fell (Golding 56). Right after Jesus Baptism God spoke to him and the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God decending like a dove, and lighting upon him (Matthew 3:16). The light that Simon encountered can also be seen as God speaking to him, which can help to explain why Simon seems so serene in the wilderness. In chapter five, the boys begin to discuss the existence of a beast on the island. When asked what he thought about it, Simon replied with what I mean is.
. . maybe its only us (Golding 89). The idea that the evil was not something to be feared in the jungle, but to be feared within themselves was not received well by the rest of the boys. Simons effort fell about him in ruins, the laughter beat him cruelly and he shrank away defenseless to his seat (Golding 89).
Many of the prophecies revealed by Jesus were also disregarded and not accepted by everyone. This depicts that both Simon and Jesus were misunderstood by the people around them. Simons encounter with the Lord of the Flies in chapter nine can be seen as a parallel to Jesus confrontation with Satan in the desert. Simon and Jesus were both challenged by evil but overcame it. Although, the Lord of the Flies would reveal to Simon that it is the evil within the boys, You knew, didnt you? Im part of you? (Golding 143). From this, he reaches an epiphany and later leaves to tell the other boys.
While returning to tell the boys, Simon is hit in the side by a spear. Jesus was also stabbed in the side before his crucifixion. The deaths of Simon and Jesus also had many things in common. Both were killed by members of their community, and were persecuted for the sins and evil of others.
The events that directly followed the deaths of Simon and Jesus are very much similar also. According to the Bible, when Jesus was being persecuted there was darkness over the whole land (Mark 15:33) and once he died the earth shook. When Simon died the clouds opened and let down the rain like a waterfall (Golding 153). One of the last parallels between Simon and Jesus is shown after Simons death.
While his body laid on the beach the strange attendant creatures with their fiery eyes and trailing vapors, busied themselves round his head (Golding 154). This event can be linked to Jesus crown of thorns being placed on his head. Throughout the novel, Lord of the Flies, Golding illustrates Simon as the only boy on the island holding a good soul. Many of the actions and events that Simon goes through also contain a very strong link to the actions of Christ.
