What does the conch shell symbolise in William Goulding's 'Lord of the Flies'?

The conch shell is an important symbol in William Goulding's novel, 'Lord of the Flies', as it is used at the start of the novel, when Ralph and Piggy attempt to create some structure into their new lives on the island. It is Piggy who initially discovers the conch, and through this action, they become unified. The character of Piggy is heavily symbolic, particularly through his glasses, as glasses have connotations of clarity, logic, vision and intellect. By wearing the glasses, Piggy therefore applies these characteristics to himself, and the conch, through their attachment in the novel.The conch is also used to create meetings, where the boys attempt to establish order, regulations and society, and therefore these qualities can be attached to the conch shell in the narrative. The shell, therefore, represents order and democracy, which, at the start of the novel attempts to be put into place, but slowly the meaning of society gets lost along the way. The slow phasing out of the conch, and its eventual destruction can be seen as proleptic towards the destruction and end of society for these boys, as they transition into savagery and violence.