Freudian Theory of Mind in Lord of the Flies

Freudian’s theory on personality comes from the school of thought that personality is divided into three sections that correlate. The three sections of personality include the Id, ego, and super ego. The theory places these sections into classes where Id falls under unconscious while ego and super ego fall under pre conscious and the conscious consecutively. In the book lord of the flies, Freudians theory is presented by the different symbols used by the author. The symbols used include conch, dagger, Piggy's specs, painted faces and long hair, the beast, and fire. The theory of Id is manifested in lord of the flies where we find Jack becoming more primitive and acting on his instincts. A good example of this is the part where Jack abandons the signal of fire and prefers hunting instead. Jack becomes irrational and acts on impulse rather than thinking his decision through. When it comes to ego the character that depicts this best is Ralph. According to the Freudian theory, the ego is the mediator between rationality and irrationality brought about by the Id. The fact that Ralph gives in allowing jack to control the choir as a compromise although he is chief. The piggy is a symbol that is used to represent the conscience. The fact that piggy confronts Jack when he lets the fire signal go out portrays him as the conscience planting remorse and guilt feelings for the wrong done. The beast is used as a representation of jack and his inability to use the rational parts which are the ego and superego. Simon is the only boy who is shown as an exception when he offers his meat to piggy. Simon is referred to as the only boy that can sport the true nature of the beast which shows he can overcome the basic desires of Id.

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