Symbolism of Stick Sharpened on Both Ends

The stick sharpened on both ends is a symbol of savagery. It is a symbol found in the story “Low Men in Yellow Coats” that was borrowed from the novel Lord of the Flies. Consider the quote introducing this first story: “1960: They had a stick sharpened at both ends” (2). In the novel Lord of the Flies, the party opposing Ralph’s leadership sharpened a stick at both ends because they intended to kill Ralph like they had a pig, cut off his head, and display it on this stick. Acts of savagery that are like the threat made against Ralph are Mr. Biderman’s physical attack on Liz, Harry and the other boys’ attack on Carol, the Vietnam War in general, Pete and the others’ act of laughing at Stokely even as he almost died, and Dieffenbaker’s order to Slocum to shoot an American soldier.