Allegory is when elements of a story (or the entire story itself) have a deeper, more symbolic meaning. From works of literature to religious texts to humdrum client testimonials, it’s one of the most powerful literary devices we have at our disposal.

In life, some ideas and concepts are complex. It can be helpful and more compelling to articulate this idea in the form of a story so that readers have time to digest and understand. A symbolic story or allegorical figure helps achieve this, and the technique is so popular there are many subcategories, including religious allegory, political allegory, classical allegory and modern allegory.

Key Takeaways

  • At its core, an allegory is an extended metaphor woven throughout a story, poem, or artwork.
  • It typically uses concrete and tangible elements to represent abstract concepts, ideas, or principles.
  • The whole story can be an allegory, or the technique might be used for a single symbolic allegorical figure.
  • Allegory is very common in symbolic fictional narrative, but is used quite a bit in non-fiction and everyday life, too.

More importantly, allegories educate and inspire your reader because they challenge readers to think critically and draw connections from a narrative arc. Whether it's a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed or a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, allegories have the ability to leave a lasting impact on those who encounter them.

The History of Allegory

The concept of allegory has its roots in ancient Greek literature. The term allegory itself comes from the Greek word allegoria, which means “speaking otherwise” or “veiled language.” In ancient times, allegories were often used as figurative language to convey moral or religious teachings in a more accessible and engaging manner.

One of the earliest and most famous examples of an allegory is Plato's Allegory of the Cave from his work The Republic, written all the way back in 375 BC. In this philosophical allegory, Plato uses the metaphor of prisoners chained in a cave, only able to see shadows cast on the wall, to represent the limited understanding of reality that humans possess. As the allegory unfolds, it explores themes of enlightenment, knowledge and the pursuit of truth.

Throughout history, allegories have been employed by writers, philosophers and artists to address a wide range of subjects. From medieval morality plays to the political satires of the 18th century, allegories have served as a vehicle for social commentary, criticism and the exploration of complex ideas.

Allegory can also be a way to speak figuratively or communicate a feeling that isn’t been fully realized yet. In 2020, Lilly Wachowski was misquoted as saying her film The Matrix was a trans allegory. Wachowski clarified in a later interview that, while she was grappling with her gender identity at the time, she didn’t go into the 1999 film mapping it out as a trans allegory from the start. Her feelings at the time may have informed her approach, though, and The Matrix is a beloved film that could be used as allegory for many different themes.

In some cases, allegories can be a vehicle to help communicate feelings that we struggle to articulate otherwise.

Types of Allegory in Literature

Biblical Allegory

The Bible and other religious works are loaded with allegory examples, and religious symbolism is a common motivation for allegory. For Christianity, John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress from the 1600s is a famous example of biblical allegory.

This Christian allegory follows the journey of a character named Christian (ahem, not very subtle) as he travels from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Along the way, he encounters various obstacles and characters that symbolize different aspects of the Christian faith including temptation, doubt and perseverance.

Symbolic Allegory

Another approach is symbolic allegory. As the name suggests, this interpretation leans heavily into symbolism to encourage human understanding.

In William Golding's 1954 novel Lord of the Flies, each major element carries symbolic weight. The conch shell represents civilization and democratic order, Piggy's glasses symbolize scientific rationality and the beast is a metaphor for the innate darkness within human nature.

Art Spiegelman's graphic novel series Maus uses animal symbolism to powerful effect, depicting Jews as mice, Germans as cats and Poles as pigs to explore the Holocaust. This choice of imagery both references Nazi propaganda that dehumanized Jews while simultaneously making the horror of the Holocaust more approachable through metaphor.

Fritz Lang's 1927 film Metropolis also uses symbols to reinforce allegory. Its setting is a future in which the underground workers' city represents the exploited proletariat, while the upper city symbolizes the privileged ruling class. The massive machine that powers the city becomes a symbol of industrial capitalism consuming human lives. (A hundred years later, this feels more like real life than fantasy.)

Personification Allegory

One of the most well-known allegories in literature is George Orwell's Animal Farm. On the surface, it tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human owner. The novel serves as an allegory for the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism, with each character or material thing representing a specific figure or group in the historical event.

Modern Allegory

In more recent times, allegorical works continue to captivate audiences.

C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series is a beloved example of allegory in children's literature. The magical world of Narnia and its inhabitants serve as allegories for Christian themes and values, with the lion Aslan representing Christ and the White Witch symbolizing evil and temptation.

Pink Floyd's famous album The Wall uses the central metaphor of a wall to represent psychological isolation and emotional barriers, with each "brick" representing traumatic experiences from the protagonist's life, from the death of his father to abusive teachers and a controlling mother.

Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) employs a mysterious black monolith as a symbol of human evolution and transcendence, appearing at key moments of technological and consciousness advancement in human history, from tool-using apes to space-faring civilization.

Allegories offer a unique and compelling way to explore complex ideas and convey profound messages. By understanding the definition and significance of allegory, readers can unlock a whole new level of appreciation for literature and the artistry behind it. ⬥

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