An allegory is a narrative acting as an extended metaphor, exemplified by Plato's "Allegory of the Cave." The classical text portrays prisoners in a cave understanding reality only through shadows, symbolizing the search for truth and enlightenment. Arthur Miller's The Crucible also serves as an allegory, representing McCarthyism under the guise of the Salem witch trials.
An allegory is a narrative that serves as an extended metaphor. One of the most renowned examples is Plato's "Allegory of the Cave", where prisoners in a cave perceive reality solely through the shadows projected on the wall in front of them. This situation acts as an allegorical representation of the human condition, in which the journey from darkness into light symbolizes the pursuit of knowledge and truth.
Considering the examples provided, the text which most closely represents an allegory is Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" from the classical period. The allegory depicts the struggle to understand and accept reality beyond the familiar but limited perceptions of the world. The journey from the cave into the light parallels the enlightenment that comes with knowledge and the harsh realities of actual understanding beyond initial beliefs.
Another articulate example of an allegory from modern literature is Arthur Miller's The Crucible. It narratively tells the story of the Salem witch trials, but it is, in fact, an allegory for the Red Scare and McCarthyism. Such works use characters and scenarios to represent broader moral and political messages, serving as allegories for the audience to decipher.