by Danna Martínez
Sometimes, to better understand a concept, we must study it from a different point of view. The allegory allows us to do this.
Allegory seeks to represent an idea in different known forms and styles. Consequently, the idea is more easily understood. The parable creates a connection between the concept and its symbolic representation that is generally welcome.
The word allegory comes from the Greek word “allegory.” This composition translates “figuratively.”
The allegory represents an idea or concept using different symbols. As human forms, animals, and everyday objects. Towards the XVII and XVIII centuries, allegorical representation had a significant influence on people. Back then, the expression of images and symbols served as an expressive medium.
Allegory is the representation of things with a symbolic meaning.
Each person has a relative and abstract point of view of the world. In some cases, complex ideas or thoughts arise to explain or represent. Allegories express these ideas for a better and easier understanding. In this way, people can reflect subjective views in a concrete representation. Allegorical representations are expressed through phrases, visible figures (images, sculptures, etc.), or acts.
The function of allegory is to make people understand a concept through a different picture.
Allegory is a philosophical, artistic, literary, and religious concept:
- Within the field of literature, allegory is a widely used figure of speech. The subjectivity of the authors uses this figure to relate concepts to events within the story.
- Within the artistic field, the allegory serves to reflect a symbolic meaning. Allegories are commonly reflected in sculptures or works of art. An example of a parable is the Statue of Liberty. As can be seen, the Statue of Liberty expresses a woman with a torch in one hand and documents in the other. However, this is not the meaning of the statue. The statue represents freedom. While the torch expresses light and liberty, the documents describe the United States’ declaration of independence.
- Within the philosophical field, allegory seeks to explain an idea or concept in a figurative sense. An example of allegory is Plato’s cave myth. Plato symbolized in his work the light as knowledge and the cave as slavery and ignorance.
- Within the field of religion, allegories improve understanding of writing and reveal new ideas. In the 17th and 18th centuries, people widely used parables to represent religious images.
Allegory seeks the symbolic meaning of representation. With this, a definition is given a different purpose than the one expressed. The parable tries to provide an image for what has no image to understand this concept better. This being the case, the idea is widely understood.
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