Symbolism & Allegory An Introduction

Symbolism When one thing (object, character, place, etc.) represents or suggests something larger or more complex Presentation of an abstract idea through concrete means For example: “freedom & the American flag”

American Born Chinese

Allegory Typically a narrative with 2 levels of meaning 2nd level can have moral, political, philosophical, or religious significance Often thinly veiled Often uses personification Extended metaphor Characters can stand for ideas/abstract ideas, or can correspond to actual history/historical figures

Allegory Allegories can be read: On a literal level On a symbolic & representative level

Allegory Sometimes extends to fables A short tale with a specific moral “The Tortoise & the Hare” Animal centered fables are called Beast Fables

American Born Chinese Technically the story of the Monkey King: Both beast fable & allegory

Symbolism vs. Allegory A symbol can be a word, place, character or object that means something beyond what it is on a literal level. An allegory involves using many interconnected symbols or allegorical figures in such a way that nearly every element of the narrative has a meaning beyond the literal level, i.e., everything in the narrative is a symbol that relates to other symbols within the story.

MK Literal Level The Monkey King rules a magical place called Flower Fruit Mountain. He wants to attend a dinner party. He is not allowed in because he is a monkey and has no shoes. He is outraged, kills or maims the dinner guests, and then does everything he can to change his “monkey-ness.” A character named Tze-yo-Tzuh tells the monkey king to accept himself, he refuses, and is buried under a pile of rock as punishment. He is freed by a monk who wants the MK to be his disciple and who teaches him to accept his true form. They go on a journey to the west and follow a star.

MK Symbolic Level The monkey king represents all people who experience rejection and/or racism and try to change themselves. His shoes represent identity—both changing and accepting it. Tze-yo-Tzuh represents a God who makes people the way they are meant to be, and Wong Lai Tsao represents a Christ figure who sacrifices himself to save the monkey king and others like him.

MK Lesson/Moral Being yourself and accepting yourself is the truest form of freedom.