In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, what does Simon's encounter with the Lord of the Flies symbolize or represent?

Simon's encounter with the Lord of the Flies symbolizes Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. William Golding uses this encounter to reveal the true source of evil on the island, which is the inherent wickedness of each individual. Simon symbolizes a Christ-like figure throughout the novel who has a unique understanding of humanity. His caring demeanor and ability to identify the true nature of the beast represents Jesus' divine perception. The Jewish name...

Simon's encounter with the Lord of the Flies symbolizes Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. William Golding uses this encounter to reveal the true source of evil on the island, which is the inherent wickedness of each individual. Simon symbolizes a Christ-like figure throughout the novel who has a unique understanding of humanity. His caring demeanor and ability to identify the true nature of the beast represents Jesus' divine perception. The Jewish name for Satan is Beelzebub, which literally translates into the Lord of the Flies. When Simon confronts the Lord of the Flies, their meeting alludes to Jesus being tempted by Satan, which is written in Matthew 4:1-11. The Lord of the Flies says,

"Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!" (Golding 143)

Simon is aware that the beast is not a tangible being and is not able to be destroyed. When he awakens from his hallucination, he attempts to share the news of the identity of the beast with the other boys. Unfortunately, Simon is mistaken for the beast and brutally murdered by the boys.