What are some examples of allegory in every day life?
Allegory does not seem to be that common in everyday life, but in political life it is rampant. Politicians are always trying to convince people of the merit of something by comparing it to something else that has superficial resemblance of which people might approve. When President Bush said that there was an “evil empire” and that the US and its “allies” were just that, he was referring to at least two allegorical precedents: World War II with the allies against the Axis. When he said that N Korea, Iran and someone else (Iraq? It fades so fast!) he was trying to liken them to the Japanese and Nazis of WWII. The “evil empire” as well, was meant to be allegorically similar to the Star Wars Evil Empire or any other science fiction evil. When the various presidents since Roosevelt have had platforms resembling the “new deal” (what was Barak’s?) they have tried to make that the allegory of their campaigns. It seems to work.
