what does the conch symbolize in lord of the flies

In William Golding's "Lord of the Flies," the conch symbolizes power, order, and authority. It represents a civilized society that regulates itself through democratic means, and it unifies the boys by the sound, bringing them together for meetings. The conch instills order by controlling who gets to speak, and it is a symbol of authority, assuring Ralph's own authority as chief. The conch's power wanes as the boys resist the concepts of free speech and civil process that it represents, and it ultimately loses its power as a symbol of civilization and democratic process. The destruction of the conch represents the final loss of order on the island