Before his tragic death in William Golding's classic novel, Lord of the Flies, Simon embarked on a crucial solitary journey that led to a profound, yet ultimately fatal, discovery about the island's mysterious "beast."
Simon's Crucial Revelation
Driven by his introspective nature and unique sensitivity, Simon ventured alone into the heart of the island, ascending the mountain. There, he made a pivotal and horrifying discovery: the terrifying entity that had gripped the boys in fear and fueled their descent into savagery was not a supernatural monster, but merely the decomposing corpse of a downed parachutist. This revelation completely debunked the myth of the beast, exposing it as a tangible, though disturbing, human remains.
The Tragic Misunderstanding and Death
Armed with this vital truth, Simon immediately began his descent, determined to convey his findings to the other boys and liberate them from their paralyzing fear. However, he stumbled into a chaotic scene during a violent thunderstorm, where Jack's tribe was engaging in a wild, frenzied ritualistic dance, consumed by hysteria and primitive instincts. In their heightened state of fear and savagery, and amidst the confusion of the storm, the boys tragically mistook Simon for the very beast he sought to expose.
Before he could articulate his revelation, the boys swarmed him in a collective frenzy, brutally attacking him. Through this savage beating, Simon was effectively crucified by the very individuals he was trying to save, dying before he could share the truth that might have altered their fate. His death marked a profound turning point, signifying the complete triumph of primal instinct and savagery over reason and civilization on the island.
