Is Simon a Martyr? (Lord of the Flies)

Rocco D’Ambrosca: 12/19/2003

The Merriam Webster defines martyr as: a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle. Simon in many ways is a martyr. Simon is a martyr because he saw things differently than others did, he believed in his belief very strongly, and he eventually died for his belief.

Simon saw things differently than others did. Simon was different than the other boys. He was quiet and did not feed into the savage nature of the other boys. Simon occasionally had a seizure and passed out. On such an occasion, while looking at the pig’s head on a stake, which was created by Jack and the hunters, Simon heard the voice of the Lord of the Flies. This voice told him that the boys were the real beast and that the beast didn’t exist. Simon had also discovered that what they had thought to be the beast was really a dead fighter pilot who had gotten his parachute stuck in a tree leaving him suspended in the air. This is what Simon came to realize that the others didn’t. He knew that the true evil on the island was the other boys and that the beast did not exist. Many martyrs see things that other people do not. For example, St. Francis of Assisi saw that the Muslims shouldn’t be killed but should be respected. This was a different view from all of the other people of his time who were involved with the Crusades, which specific mission was to kill the Muslims. Seeing things differently than others is a key characteristic of a martyr.

Simon believed in his belief very strongly. Simon had great belief that the evil on the island came from the other boys and not from a made up beast. When Simon first realized that the beast wasn’t real he knew he had to tell the other boys. All martyrs have very strong beliefs. These beliefs are usually religious, political, or moral in nature. This belief they have is all they live for, it is to them their purpose in life. Now that they have such a strong belief they are propelled to share it with others, just as Simon wanted to share his belief with the other boys.

Simon died for his belief. As I said before, Simon had a very strong belief. He believed so strongly in it he was willing and did die for it. When Simon ran down to the boys to tell them what he knew they were all reenacting the hunt. At first they didn’t hear Simon as he was yelling to them about what he knew. So, Simon kept yelling to them determined to tell them. Then in a violent rage all of the boys jumped upon Simon gnawing and scratching him to death. Simon’s dead body rolled into the ocean and his martyrdom was complete. He died for the sake of a principle, the definition of a martyr stated previously.

In conclusion, Simon was a martyr because he saw things differently than others did, he believed in his belief very strongly, and he eventually died for his belief. Simon knew that the monster wasn’t real and that the other boys represented the evil on the island. This was Simon’s message and his belief that he would die for, just as many other martyrs had done before him.