Waiting for the Barbarians, written by J.M. Coetzee, is a novel that explores themes of power, oppression, and the consequences of colonialism. The story takes place in a frontier settlement owned by an unnamed empire, where the protagonist, a nameless civil servant, serves as a magistrate. The empire is in opposition to the “barbarians,” a …
Examples of Allegories
“The Green Knight” by Iris Murdoch is a novel that explores the complexities of human relationships and the blurred lines between good and evil. The story is centered around the lives of Louise Anderson and her daughters Aleph, Sefton, and Moy, whose lives become intertwined with a mystical character known as the Green Knight. The …
“The Passion of New Eve” is a novel by Angela Carter that was first published in 1977. The book is set in a dystopian United States where civil war has broken out between different political, racial, and gendered groups. The novel is a dark satire that parodies primitive notions of gender, sexual difference, and identity …
“The Drowned World” is a science fiction novel by J.G. Ballard, published in 1962. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the novel explores the consequences of global warming and the effects of climate change on the environment and human society. The story takes place in a flooded London, where a team of scientists is studying the …
“The Double” is a novel written by Fyodor Dostoevsky that explores the theme of duality and the human psyche. The story revolves around Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin, a low-level bureaucrat living in St. Petersburg, who begins to see his exact double everywhere he goes. As the story progresses, Golyadkin’s double takes over his life, leading to …
“The Devil’s Dictionary” by Ambrose Bierce is a literary work that has stood the test of time. This satirical dictionary was first published in 1906, and has since been reprinted many times. “The Devil’s Dictionary” is a collection of humorous and satirical definitions of common words, and is a classic example of Bierce’s wit and …
“We” by Yevgeny Zamyatin is a dystopian novel that has been widely recognized for its allegorical content. The novel is set in a futuristic society where the citizens are stripped of their individuality and freedom, living under the constant surveillance of the government. The novel has been noted for its influence on other dystopian works …
“The Year of the Flood” by Margaret Atwood is a thought-provoking novel that explores the consequences of human actions on the environment. The novel is set in a dystopian future where humanity has destroyed the natural world, and a small group of people struggle to survive against all odds. Atwood’s writing is both engaging and …
“White Noise” by Don DeLillo is a novel that explores the fear of death and the role of technology in modern society. The novel follows Jack Gladney, a professor of Hitler studies at a small liberal arts college, and his family as they confront a toxic chemical cloud known as the Airborne Toxic Event. DeLillo …
“Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya is a coming-of-age novel that has become a classic in the New Mexican literature canon. The novel centers around Antonio Márez y Luna, a young Chicano boy growing up in Guadalupe, New Mexico in the 1940s. The story explores themes of identity, culture, and spirituality through the eyes of …