Character: Piggy

Description & Attribution

Piggy is the voice of reason and civilization, focusing on rules, communication, and cooperation. He represents scientific and intellectual aspects of civilization.
He struggles with his physical inadequacies - he’s short, overweight, and has serious myopia (necessitating the use of eyeglasses), making him a subject of mockery.
Piggy’s glasses are powerful symbols in the narrative, representing clear vision, wisdom, and invention. These are harnessed as the means of creating fire, demonstrating the utilization of human intellect for survival.

Piggy’s Relationship with Other Characters

Ralph, another central character, often overlooks or dismisses Piggy. Even so, over time, Ralph comes to value Piggy’s intelligence and insight.
Jack antagonises Piggy, often disregarding his opinions and suggestions outright. This demonstrates Jack’s rejection of reason and civilised approach.
Piggy is looked down upon by the other boys due to his physical appearance, but his deep wisdom, though largely unnoticed, is crucial for their survival. This reinforces the theme of appearance vs reality in the book.

Piggy’s Death

Piggy’s death at the hands of Roger, one of Jack’s hunters, symbolises the complete degradation of societal order. His senseless murder emphasises the triumph of savagery and irrational fear over civilization and the pursuit of knowledge.
His broken glasses, signifying the loss of clear sightedness and rationality, are a keenly felt symbolism when the boys resort to complete savagery.
His death firmly nails the last nail on what hope the boys had left for a functional, organised society based on rational thinking and intellectual approach.

Key Motifs

Piggy continuously pushes for the maintenance of the conch’s symbolic authority, representing the democratic power and order.
Frequently, he champions for the adherence to societal rules and regulations, seeking to sustain a semblance of their former civilization.
Similarly, he advocates for the importance of the fire, symbolising hope and rescue, over mere survivalist instincts.

By understanding Piggy’s character, we can explore the numerous themes presented in ‘Lord of the Flies’ - from societal order, the inherent violence within humanity, to the importance of reasoning and intellectualism.