A dreamy, dark haired boy, prone to fainting spells and occasional fits. Simon is the only member of Jack's chorus who doesn't become a hunter. The most generous of the biguns, Simon helps Ralph build the shelters not out of a sense of duty, but because he wants to. Simon is also the most insightful and in many ways the bravest of the boys. Only Simon recognizes that the boys carry the beast within themselves; only Simon suggests that they confront the "beast" by climbing the mountain; and only Simon is unafraid when alone in the jungle. Some critics have called Simon a symbol of Jesus Christ, but his symbolic role is actually more general. With his fits and spiritual insights, he stands for the mystics, prophets, and priests of all religions who confront and reveal the darkest aspects of human nature.
Simon Quotes in Lord of the Flies
The Lord of the Flies quotes below are all either spoken by Simon or refer to Simon. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 5
Quotes
What I mean is... Maybe it's only us...
Related Characters:
Simon (speaker)
Related Symbols:
The Lord of the Flies (the Beast)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8
Quotes
There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And I'm the Beast... Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!... You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close! I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are the way they are?
Related Characters:
Simon
Related Symbols:
The Lord of the Flies (the Beast)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Lord of the Flies LitChart as a printable PDF.
Simon Character Timeline in Lord of the Flies
The timeline below shows where the character Simon appears in Lord of the Flies. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...who tries to take control of the meeting. One of the boys in the choir, Simon, faints. Jack soon tells Piggy to shut up, and calls him "Fatty." Ralph gleefully reveals...
(full context)
...will both go, of course. Ralph ignores Piggy's whining pleas to be included, and picks Simon to be the third explorer. Ralph, Jack, and Simon have a great time exploring, and...
(full context)
Chapter 2
...wood is so dry. Piggy starts to criticize the boys, but Jack shouts him down. Simon points out that Piggy's glasses made the fire possible.
(full context)
Chapter 3
On the beach, Ralph and Simon are building huts. Ralph is frustrated because only he and Simon are working on the...
(full context)
Ralph says they need shelters because many of the boys are scared. Simon observes that it is as if the island is bad, not the good island Ralph...
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Simon slips away into the forest. He helps some of the younger boys gather fruit, then...
(full context)
Chapter 4
They cook the pig, but Jack refuses to give Piggy any meat. Simon shares with Piggy.
(full context)
Chapter 5
...and says he saw the beast in the forest the previous night. To everyone's shock, Simon says the boy probably just saw him—Simon went walking in the forest that night.
(full context)
Simon takes the conch. He says maybe the boys themselves are the beast. Piggy thinks this...
(full context)
...and kill it. He starts a chant on the beach. Everyone but Ralph, Piggy, and Simon join him.
(full context)
Chapter 7
...ocean and thinks how big it is and how it separates the boys from civilization. Simon seems to read Ralph's mind, and reassures him. "You'll get back alright," he says.
(full context)
...to tell Piggy they won't be back that night. Everyone's too frightened to volunteer, except Simon.
(full context)
Chapter 8
...when he hunts. He disappears into the forest. Everyone is stunned, but the meeting continues. Simon suggests they climb the mountain. Piggy considers the suggestion insane. He says they should just...
(full context)
Simon has wandered alone into the forest. He enters a secret glade and sits there in...
(full context)
Simon witnesses the killing and staking of the pig from his secret spot in the glade....
(full context)
Simon is on the verge of having a fit in the forest. The pig's head, the...
(full context)
Chapter 9
Simon wakes as a storm gathers over the island. He climbs the mountain even though he's...
(full context)
Suddenly, Simon staggers from the forest, shouting the news about the dead parachutist. In their frenzied dance,...
(full context)
