“Why did the ancients speak in parables?” James asked. “Why didn’t they just say plain what they meant and wanted understood?”
Eli listened then replied, “For the same reason men speak them in parts of the world today and why we may too, again, in time.”
“Why?” James questioned.
“We mistake in modern day that tolerance and freedom of speech are societal standards that have always been and should always be. We live in this incomplete perception, blind to its demonstrable untruth in much of our world today; even in our own society as we acknowledge—sometimes even approve—the censorship and forced exile of figures from public discourse with whom immanent currents, powers, and ideologies of a judging world object.
Parables are told for the same reason the world’s greatest fictions will always endure,” Eli spoke in reference to man’s nature.
“Why?” James asked once more.
Eli answered, “They communicate messages—speak to the potential of truths—established and fearful powers, aware of their own precariousness of possessing hold, would never tolerate as open discourse.
So the message becomes a story, a fiction having no harm. The message is told with just enough confusion to mislead fixed and inconsiderate minds of the entrenched while able to affect and touch those seeking greater sight. The truth is veiled so that, should the teller be called to judgment, he or she may shrug their shoulders and say it is but a story, and those who would destroy a speaker of such truth if ever spoken plainly may be absolved and dismissed of their immanent duty to murder such messengers.
Protection is the first purpose of a parable.
The second purpose is the greater: to affect. While the message falls deaf to those intent not to understand, to those who seek to hear, the message reveals plain as day. The truth is encoded, spoken, understood, and promoted further in expanse all beneath the eyes—and false omniscience—of its designed destroyers.
We do not see this purpose in parables today because we do not fear the consequence of speaking unpopular messages with potential for violent and reactive repercussions of an immanent world against those who would upset and disrupt the timorous hold of unjust force above a compliant and fearing populace.” Eli paused in contemplation, waiting for his ending words to shape before their speaking. When found, he ended. “But the world is always changing. There is nothing new under the sun, and one day—perhaps sooner than we think—we will speak in parables again, understanding well their reason and necessity.”