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Daniel Short

Professor Combs

History

14 October 2018

The Allegory Of The Cave

The symbolism in the Allegory Of The Cave is the story's main characteristic. Its purpose

is to show that someone can be submerged in darkness for such a long period of time that

they shy away from knowing the truth. The Allegory is used to show the effects of

education and the lack of it in our nature (“Allegory Of The Cave,” 2018). This hidden

meaning is what develops this story as a well-known allegory. The discovering and

interpretation of the deeper purpose helps us read this in a more creative and open-

minded way.

One of the deepest forms of symbolism throughout the allegory is the use of shadows.

The shadows represent the false truth that the prisoners begin believing in. (“Plato’s The

Allegory” n.d.) From those shadows, the prisoners begin to have faith in what is not true

and as a result, end up banking all of their beliefs on it. With that being said, we could

say that Greece was very specific in what it wanted it’s people to rest their faith in. As

any monarchy would want their citizens to believe in one thing, Greece did as well and

seemed to punish those who thought otherwise.

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Eventually, the shackles and chains are removed from one of the prisoners and is given

the opportunity to finally look behind him. He hesitates but why? This is used to

represent someone who is afraid of the truth and does not want to look into the light.

(Trumpeter, 2012) The light is used to represent the light as well. The prisoner's eyes are

so used to seeing and looking into darkness (lies) that they can no longer fathom light

(truth). This is taken to the point of saying that pain is inflicted on the prisoner's eyes and

in the very end, they wish to return to their cave for they do not belong in the world of

light.

A person's perception and interpretation of something can only ever be received through

their senses. Plato is pointing out this flaw in humanity. He eventually explains that

mankind should spend more time contemplating and investigating their own beliefs.

Nearly 2,500 years later, this lesson still applies. Maybe now more than ever since we

have such a political divide in our own country. If Plato were to see the situation that we

were in currently, his lesson would most likely be to tell us to stop and contemplate our

own beliefs rather than going with the masses.

Works Cited:

Plato's The Allegory of the Cave: Meaning and Interpretation,

www.bachelorandmaster.com/creationofknowledge/allegory-of-the-

cave.html#.W8OmWHtKiUk.
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“Allegory of the Cave.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Oct. 2018,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave.

“Allegory of the Cave by Plato - Summary and Meaning.” Philosophyzer, 29 Aug. 2018,

www.philosophyzer.com/the-allegory-of-the-cave-by-plato-summary-and-meaning/.