What does blood symbolize in this story?I was asked to do a project on symbolism and the symbol i was given is blood but i really can't think of...

Blood can symbolize a variety of things. As a spiritual
metaphor, blood can mean or be symbolic of Christ. Jesus Christ gave his life for
mankind (Simon is considered the Christ figure in this book), and it took the spilling
of his blood to kill him. Christians remember him by having communion or drinking a
small drink of wine or grape juice as a symbol of Christ's
sacrifice.

Blood can also symbolize vengence or a first
kill. There are many "firsts" in life that occur because of blood being spilled. A
girl's entrance into womanhood or a gangster's first fight or murder are just a couple
examples of the entrance to something new.  For Jack, the first kill of a pig results in
a very vivid image of the spilling of blood.

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Then Jack found the throat and the hot blood
spouted over his hands. (Chapter
8)

This kill symbolized
Jack's entry into the savage world with no room for turning
back.

In Simon's experience with the Lord of the Flies (a
fight with evil), Simon undergoes a seizure. This leaves him hallucinating and broken.
Then this vivid description of his last moments
occurs:

Even
when the vessel broke in Simon’s nose and the blood gushed out they left him alone,
preferring the pig’s high flavor.With the running of the blood Simon’s fit passed into the
weariness of sleep. (Chapter
9)

After awaking from this
slumber, Simon dies trying to tell the boys the truth about the Beast but they won't
hear his message.

The blood symbolizes the shedding of an
old life and entry into a new life for both boys.