THE CONCH
The Conch: From Sound to Symbol of Communication
How a natural object became a universal metaphor for order, voice, and collective attention.
From Instrument to Symbol
The conch shell, used in many cultures as a trumpet to announce rituals or gather people, evolved into a symbol of summoning and authority. Its penetrating sound not only called attention but also legitimized the person holding it as the one with the right to speak and organize the group.
The Role in Lord of the Flies
In William Golding’s novel, the conch becomes a central metaphor. Ralph and Piggy use it to gather the stranded boys and establish the rule: whoever holds the conch has the right to speak. The shell thus represents order, democracy, and mutual respect. When the conch is destroyed, it symbolizes the collapse of communication and civilization among the boys.
The 2026 Adaptation
In the new 2026 television adaptation, the conch retains its symbolic power. It is shown as a tool for collective attention and as a marker of turn-taking in speech, reinforcing the idea that communication requires structure and respect. The moment when the conch passes between characters is a visual reminder of the fragility of social order when shared voices are ignored.
Why It Endures
The conch remains a powerful metaphor because it bridges the physical and the symbolic. It is both a natural object that produces sound and a cultural artifact that grants voice. In literature and culture, it reminds us that communication is the foundation of community — and that without it, order quickly dissolves.
"The conch is not just a marine shell: it is a reminder that shared voice sustains social order."