Unlike most middle schoolers, I was never assigned this text. In a way, reading this text as an adult results in a greater understanding of the world and, therefore, a stronger insight into the inner workings of the island. I feel I would have appreciated this novel in the sixth grade but would not have understood the underlying themes as clearly as I do now.

For example, the conch is a symbol of power but doesn't actually give Ralph the authority he had thrust upon him at the start. When considering politics and religion, we hold many similar symbols - ones which are meant to convey power or faith but actually amount to very little when the structure is stripped away. There are a handful of other such symbols/themes, but for the sake of spoiling the novel I'll let them rest.