Plato's Allegory of the Cave

This symbolic story will be another theoretical lens with which we will read the story of 1984 through.


Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

Background
The most important of Socrates’s young disciples was Plato (427-347 B.C.), who was one of the most powerful thinkers in history. Plato was also famous for writing all of Socrates’s philosophy in his place, thus making it difficult to distinguish between the thought of Socrates and that of Plato.

Stage #1: In the Cave
The essence of Plato’s philosophy is depicted allegorically in the Myth of the Cave, which appears in his most important work, the Republic. In this myth, Plato has Socrates think of the following vision: Imagine prisoners chained in such a way that they face the back wall of a cave. There they have been for life and can see nothing of themselves or of each other: They see only shadows on the wall of the cave.

These shadows are cast by a fire that burns on a ledge above and behind them. Between the fire and the prisoners is a wall-lined path along which people walk carrying vases, statues, and other artifacts on their heads. The prisoners hear the echoes of voices and see the shadows of the artifacts, and they mistake these echoes and shadows for reality (since this world is all they know).

Stage #2: Released from the Chains
Plato has Socrates imagine that one prisoner is unchained, turned around, and forced to look at the true source of the shadows. But the fire pains his eyes. He prefers the pleasant deception of the shadows.

Behind and above the fire is the mouth of the cave, and outside in the bright sunlight (only a little of which trickles into the cave) are trees, rivers, mountains, and sky.

Stage #3: The Long, Steep Ascent into the Light
Now the former prisoner is forced up the steep path that leads to the sunlit exterior world (n.b. this act represents education: an upward climb that ultimately leads to truth). But the light blinds him. He must first look at the shadows of the trees (since he is used to the shadows), then at the trees and mountains. Finally he is able to see the sun itself (n.b. this act represents reaching enlightenment).

Stage #4: Trying to Free the Blissfully Ignorant
Plato suggests that if this enlightened man were to return to the cave, he would appear ridiculous because he would see sunspots everywhere and not be able to penetrate the darkness.

And, if he tried to liberate his fellow prisoners, they would be so angry at him for disturbing their illusions that they would set upon him and kill him (n.b. these are similar circumstances that led to Socrates’s death).

Conclusion
This symbolic story, or allegory, of the liberation of the slave from darkness, deceit, and untruth and the slave’s hard journey into the light and warmth of the Truth has inspired many philosophers and social leaders.