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Simon’s vision on the mountain top is not a mere bad dream. It is a brutal confrontation with the true nature of evil. Golding uses this episode to strip away the thin veneer of civilization. The dead parachutist becomes a physical manifestation of the beast within. This moment stands as the novel’s moral turning point.
The Breakdown of Rational Thought
Simon has always been different from the other boys. He seeks solitude in the jungle glade. Here, he connects with the island’s natural rhythms. Unlike Jack or Roger, he observes rather than conquers. His mind works differently. It looks for truth instead of power.
The hallucination occurs after a grueling discussion. The boys have spent hours debating the existence of the beast. Fear has reached a fever pitch. The collective anxiety becomes too much for Simon’s sensitive psyche. His rational mind attempts to process the group hysteria. This effort breaks him.
He tells the group, "You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you." This is the core of the hallucination. Golding forces Simon to stare into the literal face of human depravity. The decaying corpse on the hill represents the beast. It is a stark, grotesque symbol of mankind’s intrinsic darkness.
A Spiritual Epiphany in the Darkness
Many readers miss the religious undertones of Simon’s vision. He often serves as a Christ-like figure on the island. He helps the littluns reach fruit. He sits alone in contemplation. The mountaintop experience mirrors a transfiguration or a vision on a mountain.
The "Lord of the Flies" itself speaks. This is the severed pig’s head on a stick. The head teems with flies and rot. It taunts Simon, claiming to be the beast. Simon realizes the beast cannot be hunted or killed. The true monster is internal. This hallucination is a moment of profound, painful enlightenment.
The Tragic Collision with Mob Mentality
Simon’s biggest mistake is timing. He rushes down the mountain in a storm. He tries to share his revelation with the hysterical tribe. The boys are deep in a ritual dance. They have succumbed to their primal instincts. Fear drives them into a frenzied state.
They mistake Simon for the beast. The scene turns fatal. The mob beats him to death on the beach. His hallucination was correct, but no one would listen. The death of Simon is the true death of reason on the island. Order evaporates completely after this brutal act.
The Core Answer
So, why does Simon hallucinate? He is the only boy still clinging to logic and empathy. The weight of the group’s fear crushes his sanity. The hallucination forces him to acknowledge the beast. It is the human heart, not a monster with claws. Simon dies knowing the truth. The rest of the boys choose to ignore it.