Allegory

Allegory. A discourse in which there are two or more meanings, a patent, plain, or simple meaning and a figurative or hidden meaning, the former hinting or indicating the latter, and the communication of the latter usually being the real objective of the author. Outstanding works of that kind are Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Spencer’s Faerie Queen, and Dante’s Inferno. One of the most effective allegories of recent years is Animal Farm, a biting sarcasm of s*cialism, yet nowhere in the book does that word appear.

In order accurately to define allegory, it is advisable to define symbol, the two being sometimes confused. An allegory explains itself to the reader who has the necessary perspective or penetrating sight, and it needs no previous explanation or agreement about its significance. But that is not true of a symbol, which has no secondary meaning at all, except by usage, association, or agreement attaching it to some other thing, event, or idea. Thus, light is said to symbolize learning, truth, instruction, or knowledge. Why? Because we can see in the light better then we can in the dark, and we understand things we see better than we can those which are invisible. But light can also symbolize liberty, because *ncarceration is usually far from the light of day. But that symbolism has never been agreed on and, hence, does not exist.

Macoy Collector's Note: A masterclass in Masonic terminology, expertly differentiating the narrative function of an Allegory from the associative function of a Symbol.