Can I end my essay with a question?

I don't expect you to read my essay though I would appreciate feedback, anyway. I was just wondering can I end this with a question or would I probably get marked down?

In William Golding’s allegorical novel, “Lord of the Flies,” the many symbols in the novel portray the allegory of our society today. Without civilization, savagery takes over. Simon, the Lord of the Flies, and the conch are all examples of the most powerful symbols used to portray the allegory of the novel.

Simon, the quiet and usually disregarded one of the group, is used to symbolize the confusion that we all feel in our life and the decisions we must make that can affect not only our life, but also many others. For example, when Simon began to talk to the Lord of the Flies, he was warned that if he tried to stop what was happening, he would be killed. Later on, after discovering that the Beast was just a corpse, he tried to tell the rest of them and denied the words of the Lord of the Flies. This shows that while Simon had the decision to stay quiet, he spoke out against the evil whether it was his fate to die or not. This also represents the decision made inside of the people in society. Simon was confused of his decision, guilt struck if he let everything continue and too afraid to risk being killed by, ‘the Beast.’ In addition, from the story, “Simon was crying out something about a dead man…The beast was on its knees…already its blood was staining the sand.” This shows that even though Simon was trying to give peace back to the island, the evil would not let the truth be known about whom the beasts really were. The stained sand also represents the savagery that covers the society and how far the evil in peoples’ hearts are willing to go. In conclusion, Simon can be seen many ways as the confused aspect of society and the decision between good and evil that struggle in our hearts.

The Lord of the Flies, an exact replication of the evil in all hearts, is used to symbolize the evil that no man can escape or be merely rescued. For example, “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close!” This shows that not only is the Lord of the Flies a symbol of evil, but also a representation of the evil in the hearts of man. This also shows that no matter how far one may be from the evil in ones heart, the Lord of the Flies is always close. In addition, “A naval officer stood on the sand…Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart…” This shows that, while the boys were rescued from the island, they were rescued by a man whose job it is to kill. This also shows that the evil in the hearts of man will never be limited to the island, but the island will reflect the darkness of the world. In conclusion, the Lord of the Flies can symbolize only one thing, the evil that lies in all hearts and can never be expelled.

A symbol for government and law, the conch is the lone connection left to civilization. For example, all of the meetings in the beginning revolve around use of the conch. The conch began the meetings and only the one holding the conch could speak. This shows that even though the boys are stranded on an island, some kind of government is still in use. This also represents the ignorant and innocent minds that each of the boys has. In their eyes, the adults ran things perfectly with their government and so; they try to copy the style. In addition, after the island is thrown into turmoil and the group separates, “…the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.” This represents the murder of civilization. With the destruction of the conch, all past order and all morals are gone and cease to exist in the new civilization created on the island. This also represents the end of innocence and the true aspect that the boys ever so longed for in the adults. Evil and destruction comes with the end of childhood. In conclusion, unless it is used for government, the conch actually represents the last connection to a governed society and can easily cease to exist.

While many other symbols circle Golding’s novel, these three were the larger symbols to support the allegory of our society. With darkness in every man’s heart, is it possible to be saved?