A conch is classified as a marine gastropod mollusk. It belongs to the order Neogastropoda within the class Gastropoda.
The Conch Represents Democracy, order and civility
The conch in "Lord of the Flies" symbolizes power and order as it represents democracy and authority on the island. Whoever holds the conch has the right to speak, and it serves as a tool for maintaining order and civility among the boys.
In "Lord of the Flies," the conch symbolizes order and civilization on the island. It represents authority and the rule of law, as only the person holding the conch has the right to speak during meetings. The conch's power diminishes as the boys descend into savagery, reflecting the breakdown of order and civilization on the island.
Ralph blows the conch to call meetings in "Lord of the Flies." The conch becomes a symbol of authority and order on the island.
Whoever holds the conch has the right to speak. Therefore, order and control takes place. So when the conch is destroyed, it symbolizes the loss of civilization.
Ralph doesn't blow the conch because he feels frustrated and overwhelmed by the chaos and lack of control among the group. The conch symbolizes order and authority, but in this moment Ralph realizes that the conch’s power is diminishing as the boys' civilized behavior deteriorates. He understands that blowing the conch will not restore order, so he chooses not to do so.
When Ralph blows the conch, it signifies that there will be a meeting and that all should gather round. When a particular person is holding the conch, it means that they are allowed to voice their thoughts an opinions. The conch itself signifies civility and order.
In "Lord of the Flies," the conch symbolizes order, civilization, and democracy. When Ralph blows the conch, it gathers the boys together, giving him a platform to establish rules and maintain order. The conch's power comes from the boys' collective agreement to respect it as a symbol of authority and civilization.
Ralph explains that in order to have some order at meetings those who wish to speak should put up their hands "like at school. Then I'll give him the conch." He then adds, "He can hold it when he is speaking... And he won't be interupted. Except by me." Later, when Jack forms his own tribe and holds a feast on the beach he tells Ralph that, "The conch doesn't count at this end of the island." Ralph replies that the conch counts there and all over the island.
The conch started out simply as a curiosity that Ralph spotted in the lagoon. Once it was retrieved from the water it became a tool, used to call the other boys to the location. During the first meeting Ralph indicated that the conch had the additional purpose of allowing its holder to speak uninterrupted by anyone else except himself. Because the conch called boys to meetings and was then used during the process of the meeting it became indelibly associated with the whole democratic process, whereby anyboy could speak, if he held the conch. The conch therefore came to symbolise the whole process which it was part of, the democratic ideal of the meetings, civilization, rule, law and order.
In "Lord of the Flies," the conch shell symbolizes order and authority. When the boys hold the conch, they have the right to speak and be heard. As the conch loses its power, chaos and violence increase on the island, showing how the breakdown of order leads to the abuse of power. This symbol highlights the importance of structure and rules in maintaining a civilized society.
The conch often symbolizes order and authority in some cultures. Its presence can imply leadership or the calling of a meeting or gathering in situations like the blowing of a conch shell to assemble people.