What was the purpose of the account of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, and how did the author or authors of the narrative achieve this?

Disease and Culture
What was the purpose of the account of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, and how did the author or authors of the narrative achieve this?

Does it matter whether the narrative is historical/scientific, or metaphorical/allegorical? In other words, does it matter if these plagues REALLY happened, or did the account serve a purpose regardless of its “factual” reality.

Whichever way you approach this question, be sure to explain why it matters or does not matter.

You may write about an artistic representation of the Plagues of Egypt. One of the links (Links to an external site.) provided on the Contexts page lists paintings, etchings, and other portrayals.