What’s the impact of natural images and descriptions on the narration of the events Lord of the Flies by William Golding

In William Golding's Lord of the
Flies,many of the natural objects and their descriptions are symbolic of more
meaningful objects or ideas.  Of course, the island appears to Ralph at first as a
Garden of Eden noticeably minus the temptation of Eve.  That he strips off his clothes
immediately indicates his feeling of purity as he gazes at the white surf that "flinked
on a coral reef," the dark blue open sea, the sandy beach with palm trees that together
"drew to a point at infinity.  Yet, amidst this openness and beauty there lurks the
creepers that cover the island.  And, there is "the darkness of the forest proper and
the open space of the scar."  As the boys learn, evil is present on the
island.

And, then, there are the rocks, those "objects of
preposterous time."  The pink granite makes a great platform that "thrust up
uncompromisingly through forest. It poses an obstacle to climbing, representing the
ages.  While little Henry plays with the small crustacea on the beach, some of the
oldest forms of life, Roger throws stones, also an ancient symbol, all around him. Later
in the narrative, Piggy, with his pink flesh is dashed against the rocks and his head
smashed, and it is the innately sadistic Roger who commits the
act.

Of course, the fire represents the boys' rescue.  But,
it also is symbolic of power.  Like the mythological Prometheus who steals fire from the
gods and gives it to man, Jack and the hunters steal the fire on the island as they gain
more control, for who holds the fire, has power. After losing the fire to the hunters,
however, the other boys are so excited about moving the fire to the beach that they work
as though in a frenzy.  This descriptive scene indicates their need for
safety.

The descriptions of the boys' mock pig hunt is one
that is pivotal to the narration.  For, with its screams and beatings, it is a prelude
to the real hunt of Piggy and Ralph, a telling description of the inherent evil in the
boys.  And, of course, the scene in which Simon slips away and encounters the Lord of
the Flies is central to the novel's meaning.  Simon stumbles through the undergrowth and
creepers until he comes to an open spot. "He knelt down and the arrow of the sun fell on
him."  When he happens upon the pig's head, it assures him "that everything was bad
business."

Clearly, the images that are often symbolic and
the descriptions that many times foreshadow more serious future events are meaningful
forces for furthering Golding's narrative.