Plato v. Scarlett Letter
Raquel Vargas 2-26-14
English Period 1 The Scarlett Letter and Plato (The Allegory of the Cave) have many questions that can be made. In Plato the prisoners are blinded from reality and only look at one thing, which are the shadows displayed on the walls. “Thus they stay in the same place so that there is only one thing for them to look at: whatever they encounter in front of their faces.” (part one) As in for The Scarlett Letter, the townspeople can be compared to the prisoners due to the fact that they are only looking at “one thing” which would be Hester Prynne. “The grass plot before the jail, in Prison Lane, on a certain summer morning not less than two centuries ago, was occupied by a pretty large number of the inhabitants of Boston, all their eyes intently flattened on the iron-clamped oaken door.” (page 47) It is almost as if they are following each other and do not have the ability to look where else, because they think it’s the right thing to do. In Plato, to the prisoners, the shadows on the wall” is reality and all that they are capable of being able to see. “Some light, of course, if allowed them, namely from a fire that casts its glow toward them from behind them, being above and at some distance” (part one) Connecting that to The Scarlett Letter, the townspeople also have “the shadows on the wall”, the shadows on the wall to the townspeople are what society is making them look at, their shadows are also what they think is right and justice. “The door of the jail being flung from within, there appeared, in the first place, like a black shadow emerging into the sunshine, the grim and grisly presence of the town beadle, with a sword by his side and his staff of office in his hand.” (page 50) Both in Plato and The Scarlett Letter, “the shadows on the wall”, are all the prisoners and townspeople have to look at, it is what they believe is reality. “From the beginning people like this have never managed, whether on
English Period 1 The Scarlett Letter and Plato (The Allegory of the Cave) have many questions that can be made. In Plato the prisoners are blinded from reality and only look at one thing, which are the shadows displayed on the walls. “Thus they stay in the same place so that there is only one thing for them to look at: whatever they encounter in front of their faces.” (part one) As in for The Scarlett Letter, the townspeople can be compared to the prisoners due to the fact that they are only looking at “one thing” which would be Hester Prynne. “The grass plot before the jail, in Prison Lane, on a certain summer morning not less than two centuries ago, was occupied by a pretty large number of the inhabitants of Boston, all their eyes intently flattened on the iron-clamped oaken door.” (page 47) It is almost as if they are following each other and do not have the ability to look where else, because they think it’s the right thing to do. In Plato, to the prisoners, the shadows on the wall” is reality and all that they are capable of being able to see. “Some light, of course, if allowed them, namely from a fire that casts its glow toward them from behind them, being above and at some distance” (part one) Connecting that to The Scarlett Letter, the townspeople also have “the shadows on the wall”, the shadows on the wall to the townspeople are what society is making them look at, their shadows are also what they think is right and justice. “The door of the jail being flung from within, there appeared, in the first place, like a black shadow emerging into the sunshine, the grim and grisly presence of the town beadle, with a sword by his side and his staff of office in his hand.” (page 50) Both in Plato and The Scarlett Letter, “the shadows on the wall”, are all the prisoners and townspeople have to look at, it is what they believe is reality. “From the beginning people like this have never managed, whether on