Plato; The Allegory of the Cave

This was the first time I had been exposed to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. While the reading was rich I felt that my time spent on this piece of literature was well worth it. The greatest thing I took form this article was the idea that the blessed individuals, already aware of reality, had a duty and a responsibility to expose the less fortunate to this reality. As the article said, every person has the capabilities within them to understand, they just need to be turned on. Turning this switch on is the responsibility of those already aware of reality. This process won't be easy either. "At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him." This sentence exemplifies the struggle to free a fellow oppressed human and transform them over into reality. At first it's going to seem ridiculous but, step by step one can start to comprehend the bigger picture. "He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world."

While everyone has their own version of reality, many people today don''t want to take the time to understand each other's stance. It is hard work, as said in this allegory. It is much easier to stick to your own way of thinking rather than take time to wrap your mind around an idea that may seem so far out there. This allegory provides a solution to some greater misunderstandings of life but it is one of those concepts that is much easier said than done.

Stephanie S.