Please note carefully that an allegorical story is not intended to be taken as literal as in the case of Patrick Suskind's allegorical novel Perfume:
Here is the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of an allegory:
allegory
Main Entry:
al·le·go·ry
Pronunciation:
\ˈa-lə-ˌgȯr-ē\
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural al·le·go·ries
Etymology:
Middle English allegorie, from Latin allegoria, from Greek allēgoria, from allēgorein to speak figuratively, from allos other + -ēgorein to speak publicly, from agora assembly — more at else, agora
Date:
14th century
1: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence ; also : an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression2: a symbolic representation : emblem 2
Please note the phrases "symbolic fictional figures and actions"..."speak figuratively" and "generalisations about human existence"
1 comment:
Grenouille could be an allegorical figure who represents the outcome of carelessness and rejection of the world. His character seems to show what would happen to the world if everyone neglected to care about each other and behaved selfishly, using others for their own gain. If Grenouille had been cared for by any one of the characters he encounters, then perhaps he might have acted differently and avoided committing the terrible crimes. Grenouille represents the outcome of everything bad in society and this allegory is used by the writer to provoke readers to look at themselves and analyse whether or not they are acting selfishly.
Post a Comment