In lord of the flies who is the one character that helped the boys survive with his intelligence and knowledge? Piggy's actions and thoughts shape the story in a way that readers might not understand. The author, william Golding, pictures piggy as a very symbolic and intelligent character in the story. Goldng shows piggy as a symbol of civilization and order, as the only character who can remember about wanting to be rescued, and symbolizes piggy's death as the death of civilization and order on the island.