The Allegory of the Cave

Explore the concept of appearance vs reality in Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Understand why prisoners mistake appearance for reality and the pain of seeking freedom. Discover the relevance of the allegory in modern life.

Running head: THE ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE
THE ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Why do the prisoners in the cave mistake appearance for reality?
The prisoners of the cave as per the narration of Plato were overwhelmed in a sense of
self pride as they only saw the magnified version of the actual reality and considered it as the
only truth. The fact that the prisoners considered the shadows of themselves as the ultimate
reality which projected them greater than they actually were was due to the fact that the prisoners
were out of touch from the realities that existed beyond the expanse of the world they themselves
were aware of. The prisoners of the cave were not acquainted with the greater realities of the
world which could provide them with a broader perspective of life and make them aware that the
scope of reality was greater and more profound than what they saw on the walls of the cave. The
prisoners were also however not willing to venture out towards the brighter light at the entrance
of the cave, as they were chained by their customs and also by their self imposed psychic prison
(Grube & Reeve, 1974).
Why is it so painful for the freed prisoner to venture first past the fire and then out
into the sunlight? Is the pain worth it? Why?
It is painful for the prisoners to venture past the fire and seek freedom because most of
the prisoners were comfortable in their state of trance and contented with the false reality and
also wanted the others to follow the same. The ones who desired to break out of the shackles of
ignorance faced backlash from the other prisoners.
The pain of breaking past the fire is definitely worth it as the brightness of the knowledge
that existed beyond the realm of the cave was much more than the brightness of the fire that
burnt in the cave. The brightness of the knowledge outside the cave could aid the intellectual

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uplift of those who sought it, and that can be utilized to bring the other prisoners out of the
darkness and ignorance of the cave (Grube & Reeve, 1974).
Why might some prisoners, having been exposed to the outside world, choose to
return to their shackled lives in the cave?
The prisoners who chose to go back to the darkness of the cave after having encountered
the light of the outside world were motivated by the goal of spreading the truth among the others
living in a state of ignorance and broadcast the light of the world to them. Having encountered
the light of the world the prisoners had experienced an intellectual awakening and they had thus
devoted themselves to the cause of uplifting their own race and save it from succumbing to
pressure of the changing realities in the greater macrocosmic world (Grube & Reeve, 1974).
Why might the remaining prisoners kill the prisoner who returns to free them?
The prisoners might kill the prisoners who return to free the ones living in the cave as the
ones returning have committed an act of blasphemy by breaking from the norms and their return
to disturb the status quo of the life of the cave is an undesirable. Hence the prisoners returning to
free the ones living in the cave could be killed (Grube & Reeve, 1974).
Take your answers to these questions and apply them to life and truth today. Are
there any metaphorical "prisoners" in modern life?
The allegory of the cave of Plato is very much relevant in modern life and that is evident
from that fact that the freedom of press and the safety issues faced by the journalists are a proof
of it. Turkish journalist Deniz Yucul being imprisoned by President Erdogan for writing against

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him and the murder of Saudi diplomat Khashoggi for voicing opinion against the Al Saud royal
family are just few of the examples from the world where the light of truth is suppressed (Høiby
& Ottosen, 2016).

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References
Grube, G. M., & Reeve, C. D. C. (1974). Plato's republic. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing
Company.
Høiby, M. H., & Ottosen, R. (2016). Reduced Security for Journalists an Less Reporting from
the Frontline.