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Allegory Definition
What is an allegory? Here’s a quick and simple definition:
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and events. The story of "The Tortoise and The Hare" is a well-known allegory with a moral that a slow and steady approach (symbolized by the Tortoise) is better than a hasty and overconfident approach (symbolized by the Hare).
Some additional key details about allegory:
Some allegories have morals that are easy to discern, such as the example of "The Tortoise and The Hare," but others can be so subtle that it becomes unclear whether the author intended for the story to have a double meaning (or be an allegory) at all.
Although all allegories use symbolism heavily, not all writing that uses symbolism qualifies as allegory. Allegories are characterized by a use of symbolism that permeates the entire story, to the extent that essentially all major characters and their actions can be understood as having symbolic significance.
An allegory can be long and extend over an entire book or even a series of books, or it can be short or a part of a longer work (such as the Allegory of the Cave in Book 7 of Plato's Republic).
Allegory vs. Symbolism
Allegory and symbolism are often confused, but they are not the same thing.
Symbolism is the use of symbols, usually physical objects, to represent abstract ideas or qualities. For instance, in To Kill a Mockingbird the mockingbird symbolizes innocence and beauty.
Allegory is a work that makes extensive use of symbolism in order to communicate a broader moral or meaning. Nearly every aspect of an allegory—from characters, to objects, to dialogue, to settings, to major plot events—can typically be interpreted as having a secondary, symbolic meaning that fits into the allegory's broader meaning. For instance, in the 17th-century allegory Pilgrim's Progress, the protagonist (named "Christian") and his journey, as well as every other character, object, and location he interacts with along the way, symbolically fit into a larger moral or lesson about the proper "path" to reach heaven.
So, to put it another way: an allegory is a type of work or story that represents some idea, concept, or historical event that is different from the literal events contained within the story. Symbolism is the technique that an allegory uses in order to be able to represent and communicate its deeper meaning.
How Allegories Use Symbolism
Allegories use symbolism in all sorts of ways. While the types of symbols in allegories are so varied that it's not possible to categorize them all, it is possible to group them into two broad categories. Characters, events, locations, and objects in allegories usually symbolize:
Virtues, vices, or other abstract ideas. For instance, a crooked banker might symbolize greed, while the character of Mr. Legality in the allegory Pilgrim's Progress symbolizes a viewpoint that prioritizes the law over faith in Jesus Christ.
Real people and specific historical events. For example, one character might symbolize Queen Elizabeth I, or two characters might symbolize opposing sides in the American Civil War.
Although the symbolism in some allegories can be quite subtle, it's more often the case that the symbolism is clear or even heavy-handed. For example, Mr. Legality, who symbolizes a mindset focused around the law, is named Mr. Legality! Similarly, in Geoffrey Chaucer's House of Fame, Lady Fame is the name of a character who determines the social reputations of others.