William Golding's masterful use of symbolism is exemplified in his book Lord of the Flies, in which he uses masks to represent. These masks come in many forms, and by carefully studying the events in Golding's novel, one discovers their meaning. Physical masks are used by many characters such as Jack and Piggy, and are perhaps the least ambiguous forms found in the book. However, the idea of ​​mask encompasses much more than these simple literal interpretations. Metaphorical masks are used abundantly throughout the book, and much can be revealed about the characters based on how or if they chose to wear their masks. The meaning of these masks is also closely linked to the theme that the heart of man is evil. One of the most significant forms of mask is that of darkness. When the sun sets, people feel more vulnerable and scared. This can empower others and push them to take advantage of this fear or to protect their integrity with courage. In the case of this book, Jack is often seen using fear to take advantage of other kids. This is because they show signs of fear of a beast, and during the night kids often get scared. “Not even the sounds of nightmares coming from the other shelters came anymore” (Golding 107) Ralph, which means that fear must be very common. Jack knows this and gains support and fame by striving to kill, appease, and provide protection from the beast. This mixed reaction in facing the beast demonstrates Jack's ability to transform this mask to set the stage for effective manipulation. The success of this tactic is gradual as kids slowly loosen their grip on reasonable thinking, and nearly all of them eventually succumb to it. Uncovering the mask of darkness can be humiliating… middle of paper… .he continually enjoyed brushing his tangled hair out of his eyes…” (Golding, 82). This shows that he has become aware of this blind tribal revolt and, by removing the mask, he can think clearly and understand reality. It can therefore be said that the length of the hair is directly related to the personality of each boy. Likewise, darkness and various physical masks also directly influence the functioning of children's minds. These symbols have such a great impact that the theme of the book could not be conveyed effectively without them. The impact of the theme, which suggests that there is the potential for evil in every human being, would be diminished if the audience were not able to look closely into the minds of the characters. Golding's use of masks achieves just this, creatively implementing an interesting narrative device that makes Lord of the Flies a truly compelling read..