Allegory
Stories with Hidden Meanings
Unveiling Deeper Truths by Kalviyogi Nagarajan 369 Tesla Pvt Limited
An allegory is a narrative—whether in prose, verse, painting, or sculpture—in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities or ideas. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas such as charity, greed, or envy.
Essentially, an allegory is a story with two levels of meaning: a literal, surface-level story and a symbolic, deeper meaning. It's a way of conveying complex ideas or critiques in a more accessible or imaginative form.
Dual Meaning (Literal & Symbolic)
An allegory operates on at least two levels: a surface narrative (literal meaning) and a deeper, hidden meaning (symbolic or figurative meaning).
Symbolic Characters & Elements
Characters, settings, objects, and events often represent abstract concepts, virtues, vices, political figures, or historical events.
Didactic Purpose
Allegories are frequently didactic, meaning they aim to teach a moral, ethical, religious, or political lesson to the reader.
Sustained Metaphor
The entire work can be seen as an extended metaphor, where the symbolic connections are maintained throughout the narrative.
Plato - Allegory of the Cave
From "The Republic," this classic allegory describes prisoners in a cave who mistake shadows for reality, symbolizing the journey from ignorance to enlightenment and the philosopher's duty.
Edmund Spenser - The Faerie Queene
An epic poem where knights representing various virtues (Holiness, Temperance, Chastity, etc.) undertake quests in a fantastical land, allegorizing moral and political themes of Elizabethan England.
Explore Edmund SpenserGeorge Orwell - Animal Farm
A 20th-century novella that allegorizes the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism, with farm animals representing key figures and social classes.
Other examples include medieval morality plays like Everyman, and John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.
The Power of Allegory
Allegory allows writers to explore sensitive or controversial topics indirectly, making complex ideas more relatable and memorable through storytelling. It invites readers to engage actively in interpretation, uncovering the layers of meaning embedded within the narrative.