Essay 2- Piggy's Other Look

Piggy, the science loving, geeky boy who provides rationality and logic to the group, is a very important character. He is clear-headed, kind-hearted and with only good intentions. In the book he comes to represent the Superego, the part of everyone that follows the rules and is the better part of us. His demise is at the moment in the book where civilization is officially at an end. Ralph, the democratic leader, is on the run, Roger, the cruelty loving, silent hunter is second in command, Simon, the kind, unselfish, truth-seeking boy has been ritually murdered and Jack, the tyrannical, embodiment of the Id is in charge and is worshiped like a god.
Piggy's other look-
Piggy is not an athletic character. His strength is in his mind and not in his body. He is overweight, wears glasses (though this turns out to be a plus,) and has asthma. Also his distant way of talking alienate him from the other boys. Yet Piggy had much to say if any of them chose to listen. Almost all of Ralph's good ideas were Piggy's. As the embodiment of the Superego, Piggy would have prevented the group from spiraling into chaos. If only they had listened. One of the main factors that prevent them from listening is his difference. Had Piggy been slim, athletic and not asthmatic he would have been more socially acceptable. Had this character been socially accepted then the other boys would have been more likely to listen to his wisdom. Had they listened to him they would have seen the errors in Jack's ideas and seen how they led to a collapse and savagery. If Jack's monomania of obsessively seeking after pigs was checked and corrected, if the fears of the beast were dispelled by Piggy's clear logic then the boys would have kept the signal fire alive. They would have kept together as a group and all been rescued instead of a few. The story would have been very different.