Allegory has deep roots, perhaps as old as story itself. There is something in prehistoric cave paintings, for instance, that points at two meanings, one literal and one figurative.

This brings us to a first figure, Joseph Campbell. Many are probably familiar with Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces, but his thinking  goes much further than that. Campbell’s self-set task was to connect the meanings behind the treasure trove of the world’s stories. He did this in a remarkable fashion, linking common symbols to common meanings, based largely on realities that all humans share.

Campbell’s self-set task was to connect the meanings behind the treasure trove of the world’s stories. He did this in a remarkable fashion, linking common symbols to common meanings, based largely on realities that all humans share.

If you have not seen Bill Moyers’ interviews with Joseph Campbell, go see them now. 

By looking at the way myth’s try to explain things, Campbell is doing something essentially allegorical. Although sometimes his conclusions are a bit materialist and overly conclusive for me, nevertheless he is doing something worthwhile. Though nearly a contemporary, this work merits making him a first stop on the way towards thinking about allegory.

What do you think?