ALLEGORY

ALLEGORY

An allegory is a prose or verse narrative where the author selects and arranges his material in such a way that the characters, plot and setting make sense in themselves, but at the same time they represent a parallel set of characters, plot and setting. Through allegory an author conveys hidden political, historical, or moral meaning by using characters and settings as symbols. For example, the famous story of The Hare and the Tortoise where the tortoise symbolizes perseverance & steadiness and the hare symbolizes overconfidence.

• Allegories employ a lot of symbols. In fact, no allegory can be written without using symbols as the story in an allegory essentially stands for a parallel set of narrative. But we have to be careful that all writings that make use of symbols cannot be called allegories.
• Allegories are full of symbols that are extended throughout the work and the actions of characters, and even the plot and setting also have symbolic significance. For example, in Animal Farm all the characters symbolize other historical figure/s and the battles and rebellion symbolize actual historical rebellion.

So, allegories are those literary works that represent ideologies, concepts, ideas, and morals that are not directly a part of the story told therein.

TYPES OF ALLEGORY:

1. Historical and Political Allegory – This type of narrative allegorizes historical and political events and personages. The characters and actions in the story represent actual historical figures and events. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a good example of this type of allegory.
2. Allegory of Ideas or Conceptual Allegory – Here the literal characters stand for abstract concepts and the plot symbolizes a doctrine or theory. A good example of this type of allegory is the Morality plays. In a Morality play the protagonist would meet a number of characters who would be personifications of various abstract concepts, such as Good, Evil, Justice, Beauty, Virtue, Greed etc., and he would be required to make his choice, thereby delivering a moral message. This type of allegory employs personification as its chief tool. Religious and social allegories fall into this category.

Allegories can be written in extended form where they are sustained throughout the work (Orwell’s Animal Farm) or they may be used episodically in a long work (Milton’s Paradise lost).

Why to write an allegory?

Why would a writer use allegory when s/he can always write the story directly? Why did Orwell choose animals when he could always name his characters for who they were – Lenin, Stalin, Molotov and so on?

• The most common reason is that an author takes recourse to allegory when he is dealing with a controversial topic. If the topic of his writing is such that it could offend people or land him in controversy, allegory comes to rescue. A writer can talk indirectly about whatever religious, social or political idea he might be interested in. Orwell chose animals because the British government was on friendly terms with Stalin and it could have landed him in trouble to criticize him directly. An allegory conveys the message without rubbing the authorities the wrong way.
• Talking directly about goodness, virtue, and compassion can be boring, right? If someone tells you directly to be truthful and honest, you would not pay attention. But when a story and characters are manipulated to convey the message indirectly, it is always interesting and grabs the attention of the readers. All the stories of Panchatantra are a testimony to this. Imagine someone lecturing you on the importance of being slow but steady in life. You Don’t care, I bet! But when you listen to the fable of the hare and tortoise you get the moral instantly.