Piggy's glasses in Lord of the Flies, I
think symbolize civilization. While Piggy is not good looking and charismatic like Ralph, or
powerful and ruthless like Jack, he is rational and he always brings the "civilized" point of
view to the discussion.
Piggy's glasses, then, represent the clarity
that civilization brings to society. Without them, Piggy can't see anything. He is blind to the
truth. However, when he has them on, everything comes into focus and the "humane" choice can be
made.
One of the "civilized" things the specs help with is the
starting of the fire. Fire has often been linked to civilized society. When the cavemen learned
to make fire, they took a step out of the savage world toward civilized
life.
When Jack smacks Piggy and his glasses fly off and break, that
is the parallel to civilization starting to crack. When Jack and his tribe steal the glasses,
that means that the ruthless savages have stolen civilization (and therefore humanity) away from
the boys.
Once the glasses are gone, it foreshadows the death of
Piggy, because a civilized man cannot survive in a world that worships strength, brutality, and
power.
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