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Literary Devices
Definition of Allegory
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and events. The story of "The Tortoise and The Hare" is... read full definition
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and events. The story of "The... read full definition
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and... read full definition
Key Examples in The Phantom of the Opera
Chapter 4
Explanation and Analysis—Social Conventions:
In many ways, The Phantom of the Opera engages with the unfair results of rigid social distinctions. For instance, Erik remains an outcast because of his face; he symbolizes vulnerability and injustice as well as the unfounded horror that people feel when met with unexpected or unfamiliar appearances. By contrast, Armand Moncharmin becomes a director of the opera house despite his complete lack of musical training. In Chapter 4, the narrator describes how Moncharmin acquired his position at the opera:
Armand Moncharmin wrote such voluminous Memoirs that we may well ask whether, during his years as co-director of the Paris Opera House, he ever found the time to discharge his duties other than by keeping a chronicle of events there. He had no knowledge of music; but he was on friendly terms with the Minister for Public Education and Fine Arts, had tried his hand as a theatre critic and enjoyed the advantages of a substantial private income.
Related Themes:
