In Lord of the Flies , several characters die during the course of the story:
- Simon is killed by the other boys in a frenzied ritual dance when they mistake him for the beast. Simon had discovered that the "beast" was actually a dead parachutist, and he was on his way to share this revelation when the boys, caught up in their fear and savagery, beat him to death with their bare hands and spears
- Piggy dies when Roger, one of Jack's tribe members, deliberately pushes a large boulder onto him, causing fatal injuries. Piggy's death marks the collapse of order and reason on the island
- Additionally, one of the littluns presumably dies in a fire that gets out of control after the boys build it, although this death is not explicitly detailed
These deaths symbolize the descent into savagery and loss of innocence among the boys stranded on the island. Simon's death is often interpreted as an allegory for the crucifixion of Christ, representing a sacrifice for truth and goodness that goes unrecognized by the others
. Piggy's death signifies the final destruction of civilization and rationality within the group.
