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Literary Devices
Definition of Allegory
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and events. The story of "The Tortoise and The Hare" is... read full definition
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and events. The story of "The... read full definition
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and... read full definition
Volume 3, Chapter 5
Explanation and Analysis—Daniel in the Den:
In Ivanhoe Scott draws a parallel between the return of King Richard I from his captivity in Europe to the emergence of Daniel from the den of lions in the Bible. This allusion serves as an allegory for Richard's journey and his influence, as Nathan Ben Samuel says to Isaac:
Go thou [...] and be wise, for wisdom availed Daniel, even in the den of lions into which he was cast; and may it go well with thee, even as thy heart wisheth.
When Nathan delivers this advice he's telling Isaac that he should go and beg Bois-Guilbert to release Rebecca. Isaac is worried about doing this because the Knights Templar are allied with Prince John, and he is frightened of angering Richard I when he returns. By invoking the Biblical story of Daniel, who was thrown into the lions' den by his jealous rivals but emerged unscathed due to divine providence, Nathan here suggests that wisdom and righteousness are protective forces. The allusion to Daniel being thrown to the lions by jealous rivals directly mirrors the trajectory of Richard I, whom everyone believes to still be imprisoned. Like Daniel, Richard faces betrayal and danger during his imprisonment. His incarceration was a direct result of the envy and machinations of those around him, including his brother Prince John. The reference to Daniel's wisdom in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds reflects the narrator’s view of Richard's own situation. Despite being held captive and facing the treachery of his brother, Richard's return is marked by a sense of rightful leadership being restored.
The allegory extends further, with Daniel's eventual return from the lion's den allegorizing Richard I's return to England as Isaac and Nathan imagine it. This parallels the Biblical story's themes of divine favor and the eventual triumph of good over evil, suggesting that Richard's leadership and presence are good and righteous. It reinforces a central idea in Ivanhoe that Richard's rule was not only legitimate but also divinely favored.
Related Themes:
