Everyone asks questions and/or has questions they want answered. Philosophers were famous for asking them, most notably Socrates, and by extent, Plato, through his Socratic dialogues. Nearly as famous as his dialogues, however, was Plato's allegory "The Cave", comparing people living a primitive life in a cave to everyday people in the real world. Plato artfully uses Socrates' comparison and imagery, along with questions, to explain that people must question the world and try to "leave the cave".
Plato uses many different comparisons to convince Glaucon that the cave is worth leaving. First, he compares the people in the cave to prisoners. The word "prisoner" almost always has a negative connotation, and makes the cave seem harsh, dirty, and undesirable like a prison. Next, Plato (through Socrates) compares the positives and negatives of light and shadows. He claims that even though the light seems wonderful from inside the darkness of the cave, it is painful and hurts the prisoners' eyes after all their time in the cave. It takes a long time for them to finally adjust, get used to the light, and feel comfortable enough to completely walk away. These comparisons argue that people have trouble accepting new ideas or challenging their old ideas. Overall, though, leaving the cave and questioning life will be worth the pain and the positives.
Plato also uses imagery to argue that people must question life and stop believing only traditional ideas. First, he mixes his comparisons of the cave to a prison with imagery, then transitions to describe the world outside the cave. The images of the night sky, heaven, the sun, and nature all make leaving the cave appealing, and therefore the allegory of leaving old thoughts and beginning to question oneself.
Plato's allegory "The Cave" is made up of many comparisons interwoven with imagery that make Socrates' ideas of questioning and embracing new ways of thinking seem desirable and ideal. These comparisons and images help Socrates' friend Glaucon to make a decision concerning the allegory and learn about real life at the same time, questioning traditional ways and making "life worth living".
Plato. "Book VII of "The Republic"" Plato's Cave. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
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