What does the Lord of the Flies (the actual pig head) symbolize?

A) The strength of friendship

B) The evil within ourselves

C) the power of the group mentality

D) safety and home

In "The Lord of the Flies" the actual pig head symbolizes:

B) The evil within ourselves

Explanation:

There is a contrast between the light and the dark with the symbol of bright butterflies and the black flies on the head of the pig. The conflict between good and evil is portrayed with this symbol. Evil is associated primarily with the beasts in the novel like the pig's head and a snake.

Jack and the other hunters kill a pig and put his head on a spike. This dead pig was meant to be the dead "Lord of the Flies" beast that they were afraid of. However, the Lord of the Flies says to Simon that he is ignorant for thinking the "beast" is something that they could kill. He says, "You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you?" Simon knows the actual pig head isn't killing the beast because the fear they have for a "beast" isn't a physical manifestation, it represents our fear of the evil within ourselves.