by: Chris Milton
While literature in the medieval and Middle Ages is a huge proponent of allegory, it is far from the only place we see this technique demonstrated. Allegory has been used for centuries, even before biblical ages. It is important to understand the roots of allegory to see why it became so popular in early English writings. We see allegory in Hebrew scriptures, the New Testament mainly from Jesus Christ, and even in artistic designs such as sculpture.
The Bible has so much to offer when it comes to allegorical literature. We see many metaphors throughout both the Old and New Testaments. In the book of Isaiah, the author compares God’s people, the people of Israel, to a vineyard:
“3And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.4What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?5And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.6I will make it a waste; It shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it” (Isaiah 5: 3-6).
In this passage, the speaker talks about his vineyard and that he is displeased that he did not grow fertile, satisfactory grapes. Since he is unhappy, he will stop tending the vineyard and let it grow wild until it dies on its own. The metaphor behind the passage is told form the point of view of God. God created the world and the people on it (the vineyard) and gave them everything he could. But instead of being grateful to God, his people sinned and became violent. The author is warning us not to turn our backs on God, but to worship him so that he does not turn his backs on us.
A specific type of allegory that has been around for thousands of years is the fable. A fable is an oral storytelling tradition that is notable for using animals and objects as people to speak on a moral issue. This is effective because “by using animals to represent humans, storytellers are able to indirectly criticize human behavior” while still having a straightforward and easily identifiable lesson (Study.com, Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/allegory-in-literature-history-definition-examples.html). One of the most famous fables is that of The Tortoise and the Hare in which a slow-moving tortoise and a speedy of arrogant hare race each other. The tortoise ends up besting the hare and the fable teaches the lesson, slow and steady wins the race.
Another identifiable type of allegory is the parable. Parables are as old as the fable, differing in that they use people rather than animals to teach a lesson. Parables are often paired with biblical themes since Jesus Christ is well known for his delivery of parables to his disciples and the crowds he speaks to. One of his most famous parables is that of the sower:
“”A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. 7. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” (Luke 8: 5-8)
In his famous passage, Jesus tells his followers that it is their duty to follow the words of God if they want a chance of having eternal life in heaven. If they do not live is the seeds in the good soil, they will not go to heaven and everything they have will be stripped away. It makes sense that parables are a popular form of allegory in the bible since these sort of holy books are consistently trying to reach a mass audience with a clear goal that the authors want them to follow.
It becomes clearer, now, why medieval and Middle Age literature uses allegory as a technique. These times had a primary focus on Christianity and many of the texts can be read with a Christian lens. It makes sense that many plays have God and Satan as characters. And it makes sense that many writers such as John Milton use the bible as inspiration for their works. These writers have adopted the metaphorical stylings of other ancient allegorical techniques so that their messages reach as great an audience as the bible.
Further Reading:
Study.com, Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/allegory-in-literature-history-definition-examples.html.
“THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER and Its Synoptic Interpretation.” Parable of the Sower, ww3.haverford.edu/religion/courses/301F09/Parable1.htm.
“Allegory.” Allegory – New World Encyclopedia, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Allegory.