Who is Percival in Lord of the Flies? In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Percival might not be a major character, but he still leaves a lasting impression. As the smallest and youngest of the littluns, Percival is sensitive and homesick, often breaking down into tears as he struggles to cope with life on the island. Unfortunately, this vulnerability makes him an easy target for bullying by both older boys and fellow littluns. Despite his small role, Percival plays a key part in shaping the group’s fear when he suggests that they haven’t found the Beast because it lives in the water. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into who Percival is and why his presence matters in Golding’s novel.
Who is Percival in Lord of the Flies?
In Lord of the Flies, Percival Wemys Madison is one of the youngest and smallest boys, often called a “littlun.” He’s portrayed as sensitive, timid, and frequently homesick. Being so young and vulnerable on the island makes him an easy target. He cries often and gets bullied by the other boys, even by some of the other littluns.
Percival is especially known for his anxious attempts to comfort himself by repeating his full name and address, which is something he’s been taught to do if he’s ever lost. Golding highlights Percival’s vulnerability clearly:
“Percival Wemys Madison sought in his head for an incantation that had faded clean away.“ (Chapter 12)
This quote shows how deeply Percival’s identity and sense of security have been damaged after prolonged isolation from home.
One important moment involving Percival occurs during a group meeting when fear about the so-called “Beast“ is growing. Nervously, Percival suggests that the reason they haven’t found the Beast yet is because it lives in the water:
‘He says the beast comes out of the sea.‘ (Chapter 5)
Percival’s suggestion makes the boys even more afraid and paranoid, showing how quickly panic can take over when kids don’t have adults around to help. Later in the story, we see just how deeply traumatized Percival has become. By the end, he’s so upset and affected by his experiences that he can’t even recall his own address—clearly showing how much of his innocence he’s lost.
“Percival Wemys Madison would speak no more… The tears began to flow and sobs shook him.“ (Chapter 12)
Through Percival, Golding clearly illustrates how innocence can be easily crushed by fear, cruelty, and isolation. His character serves as a reminder that without rules and protection from adults or society, even young children can suffer deeply or lose themselves entirely.
Is Percival a littlun?
Yes, Percival is one of the littluns in Lord of the Flies. The named littluns include Henry, Johnny, Phil, and Percival. These younger boys represent innocence, vulnerability, and dependency on others. Through characters like Percival, Golding shows how quickly innocence can be lost when society breaks down.
How old is Percival?
In Lord of the Flies, Percival is described as one of the youngest boys, often called a “littlun.“ Although his exact age isn’t stated in the book, he’s likely around six years old, based on his behavior and vulnerability. He’s portrayed as sensitive, easily frightened, and frequently homesick, highlighting how young and dependent he really is.
What happens to Percival in Lord of the Flies?
In Lord of the Flies, Percival starts out as a sensitive and homesick littlun who often cries and gets bullied by the others. As the story progresses, he becomes increasingly frightened and traumatized. By the end of the novel, he’s so deeply affected by his experiences that he can’t even remember his own name and address, which is something he previously repeated to comfort himself. Percival’s journey shows how quickly innocence can be lost when society breaks down.
Why is Percival important in Lord of the Flies?
Percival is important in Lord of the Flies because he represents the innocence and vulnerability of the boys when they first arrive on the island. As one of the youngest littluns, he’s sensitive, homesick, and easily upset, which shows how dependent children are on civilization and adult care. As order breaks down into chaos and savagery, Percival’s loss of identity (he eventually can’t remember his own name or address) symbolizes how completely innocence and order have been destroyed among all the boys.
Does Percival die in Lord of the Flies?
No, Percival does not die in Lord of the Flies. Although he suffers greatly, becoming traumatized and losing his sense of identity by the end, he survives and is rescued along with the other remaining boys. His character shows us how deeply innocence can be damaged without civilization and order.
Conclusion
Though Percival isn’t one of the main characters in Lord of the Flies, his role still gives us important insight into how fear and cruelty can affect even the youngest children. As the smallest littlun, his sensitivity, homesickness, and frequent tears highlight the innocence and vulnerability that gets lost on the island. Bullied by both older boys and his fellow littluns, Percival also contributes significantly to the group’s growing fear by suggesting that they’ve never found the Beast because it actually lives in the water. Through Percival’s experiences, Golding effectively shows just how deeply fear and chaos can impact everyone, including the most innocent, when rules and order break down.