LOTF Symbolism Passage 3

In the third passage, symbolism is shown through Henry’s footprints. Golding wrote, “His footprints became bays in which they were trapped and gave him the illusion of mastery.” In this citation, the “they” that the author is referring to is the creatures that swarmed the sand areas where Henry’s footprints seep down. The boy felt an incredible sense of power when he distinguished the fact that he could place his foot down freely overtop of the bugs, without them saying anything about it. It is his footprints that brought him this sense of power. Well aware that power over the boys wasn’t attainable, Henry enjoyed this unordinary over ruling of things. This feeling has been sought out by the boy ever since he came to the island.