“Irony is an expression in which the intended meaning of a word or phrase is the exact opposite or contradictory of its usual sense.” In Golding's book “Lord of the Flies” Golding uses irony combined with symbolism to reveal hidden truths about human nature. Golding also advances the idea that science, hope, civilization, and in some moments savagery are dependent on each other to survive.

One of the prevalent themes is the irony of the boys destroying science, even though it is vital for their survival on the island. When Jack's tribe attacks Ralph and Piggy they steal his glasses. We see how vulnerable he is without his glasses. “I can’t see” (p. 167) Golding uses Piggy not having his glasses to show that science must be protected and taken care of in order to thrive. “We’ll have a feast! Bill put his hand up. What will we use to light the fire?” (p. 161) Jack realizing that he cannot cook the meat without the fire, shows that savagery cannot exist without science. That interaction is extremely ironic, because savagery and science are complete opposites.

Fire is used as a symbol for science, life, and hope throughout Golding's entire novel. When Ralph is being hunted at the end of book, the boys try to kill him with spears and rocks to no avail, but when they had almost given up, one of the boys in Jack's tribe had the idea of smoking him out. “Smoke!” (p. 195) This is by far the most ironic moment in the entire book because the very thing that Ralph had been working to preserve was about to become his demise. Moreover, Ralph is seen obsessing over the fire on several occasions “You said you’d keep the fire going and you let it go out.” (p. 70) Golding introduces this bellwether early on in the book to convey the idea that fire which represents hope can be a double entendre of beauty and danger at the same time. Since Ralph spends his time on the island fostering the fire without much regard to its dangers, it ends up becoming the thing that leads to his demise. 

Exploration into the irony and symbolism of the way hope and science are portrayed in “Lord of the Flies” causes the reader to reflect on how savagery, science, and hope cannot exist one without the other. Knowing how savagery thrives on chaos and destruction can help a reader to avoid dangerous behavior or mindsets, thus preventing the death of innocent people or the destruction of the earth.