Question

What do the ashes in ralph's face at the end of chapter 7 symbolize?

Answer 1

The ashes on Ralph's face symbolize the loss of innocence and the descent into savagery in William Golding's Lord of the Flies, portraying the psychological and societal changes experienced by the boys.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the ashes on Ralph's face at the end of chapter 7 symbolize the loss of innocence and the boys' descent into savagery. Throughout the novel, the characters become increasingly wild and the veneer of civilization falls away. The ashes specifically reflect Ralph's physical and psychological tarnishing as the boys' activities become more primal and aggressive.

As they participate in hunting and other savage rituals, the ash is not just a literal remnant of fire and cooked meat but also a metaphor for the soot of human goodness being clouded by the darker aspects of humanity. This transformation is a key theme in the novel, showcasing how situational pressures can cause a drift away from cultured behavior into a more barbaric state of existence. The changes in their environment, such as the wild hair resembling the eerie moss and the ashes, parallel the internal changes within the characters, marking significant steps in their evolution from civilized schoolboys to primitive survivalists.

Answer 2

The ashes on Ralph's face in chapter 7 of 'Lord of the Flies' symbolize the loss of innocence, a transformation from civilization to savagery, and the internal scarring from enduring the island's harsh conditions. This symbolic element underscores the theme of the novel, reflecting the darkening of the characters' souls as they navigate through their primal environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

In literature, symbolic elements are often utilized to add depth and meaning to characters and events. The instance of Ralph having ashes on his face at the end of chapter 7 in Lord of the Flies is rich in symbolism. Ashes typically represent destruction, remnants of something that once was alive and is now extinguished. In Ralph's case, the ashes might symbolize the loss of innocence and the transition from civilization to savagery that the characters experience on the island.

When exploring the symbolism of ashes in literature, it is not uncommon to find that they signify despair, mourning, or a sense of one's dreams or hopes having been burned down and reduced to nothing. For example, ashes in the story of Aylmer and Georgiana signify imperfection and mortality, as Aylmer obsesses over the birthmark on his wife's cheek. The ashes on Ralph's face could similarly be interpreted as a marking of imperfection or the taint of humanity's darker instincts.

Furthermore, the act of Ralph tearing off his red shirt 'savagely' and acknowledging the grease and ashes beneath is indicative of the internal turmoil he is experiencing. It is a physical manifestation of the psychological 'eating into his brain' that the characters endure as they grapple with the harsh realities of their existence on the island. The presence of ashes, here, emphasizes the idea of something precious being consumed—Ralph's innocence and the order of the society from which they have come.

Thus, in the context of the novel, the ash-streaked face of Ralph at this particular moment may serve as a metaphor for the internal scarring, the erosion of civility, and the darkening of the soul that occurs as the island's primal environment takes hold.