Allegorization

Allegorization is the process of representing abstract ideas, moral concepts, or social or political realities through concrete, symbolic figures, events, or actions within a narrative, image, or other media. In an allegorized work, characters and plots operate on two levels: the surface story and a deeper, non-literal meaning.

It derives from the term allegory, and the verb form emphasizes the practice of encoding meaning beyond the literal surface. Allegorization can be explicit, where the symbolic message is clearly presented, or covert, where the connection must be inferred by the reader or viewer.

Historically, allegorization has deep roots in classical and medieval literature. In antiquity, allegory was used to convey philosophical and moral ideas; in medieval Christian exegesis, Scripture was often read allegorically. In modern times, novels and films have employed allegory to critique politics or social conditions, and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave remains a canonical example of the method.

Allegorization spreads beyond literature into film, visual art, architecture, and political discourse, where symbols stand for wider concepts such as justice, power, or virtue and vice.

Because allegorization relies on symbolic conventions and cultural context, its interpretation can vary. It can illuminate complex issues but may also invite contested readings or perceived didacticism.