Symbolism In The Allegory Of The Cave
Obtaining the Truth
Plato is a historical Greek philosopher and one of Socrate’s pupils. After Socrate died in 399 B.C., Plato left his home in Athens and returned approximately twenty years later. “The Allegory of the Cave” is a short story filled with symbolism and metaphors that Plato had written before he died. In the story, Plato wrote about Socrate and his brother, Glaucon, discussing the steps to obtain the truth and why one should obtain it.
In the story, Plato uses the prisoners as representative of human perception. “Like ourselves … they see only … shadows ...” (Plato 507). Much like “ourselves” (humans), prisoners only know their own “truths”, the shadows, which are based on what they experienced and learned; it does not matter what reality is. Therefore in the story, Socrates talks about exposing them to the truth. “… unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then … his eye is turned towards more real existence …” (Plato 507-508). Before the prisoner can accept reality, they need to adjust to it by seeing the “more real existence,” after seeing the shadows. “… he is forced into the presence of the sun … He will grow require to accustomed to the sight … then reason about him” (Plato 508). By exposing them to a greater truth (the sun), or the reality …show more content…
In Plato’s era, a dynamic change in society’s perception would cause one to be called a devil that needs to be dead. Today one may be considered a crazy, delusional, and to be put in an asylum. Just like prisoners, from a human’s shadow, one needs to be able to adjust to a change in perception. No one will be convinced that mythical creatures live in every single house, one be accustom to it first by slowly accepting the change. According to Plato, one should “[Take consideration of other’s words] with an effort … [in order to see] all things beautiful and right…” (Plato 510). Do not stay in the cave, search the beauty in
Plato is a historical Greek philosopher and one of Socrate’s pupils. After Socrate died in 399 B.C., Plato left his home in Athens and returned approximately twenty years later. “The Allegory of the Cave” is a short story filled with symbolism and metaphors that Plato had written before he died. In the story, Plato wrote about Socrate and his brother, Glaucon, discussing the steps to obtain the truth and why one should obtain it.
In the story, Plato uses the prisoners as representative of human perception. “Like ourselves … they see only … shadows ...” (Plato 507). Much like “ourselves” (humans), prisoners only know their own “truths”, the shadows, which are based on what they experienced and learned; it does not matter what reality is. Therefore in the story, Socrates talks about exposing them to the truth. “… unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then … his eye is turned towards more real existence …” (Plato 507-508). Before the prisoner can accept reality, they need to adjust to it by seeing the “more real existence,” after seeing the shadows. “… he is forced into the presence of the sun … He will grow require to accustomed to the sight … then reason about him” (Plato 508). By exposing them to a greater truth (the sun), or the reality …show more content…
In Plato’s era, a dynamic change in society’s perception would cause one to be called a devil that needs to be dead. Today one may be considered a crazy, delusional, and to be put in an asylum. Just like prisoners, from a human’s shadow, one needs to be able to adjust to a change in perception. No one will be convinced that mythical creatures live in every single house, one be accustom to it first by slowly accepting the change. According to Plato, one should “[Take consideration of other’s words] with an effort … [in order to see] all things beautiful and right…” (Plato 510). Do not stay in the cave, search the beauty in