In Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” Socrates tells a story to Glaucon about a cave. Where men are shackled from their necks and aren’t able to move their heads. Socrates mentions that there is a burning fire behind them. The only thing the chained men can see is the shadows of people, things that are passing by behind them. They were in this position for so long that these shadows become reality for them.
One of the men was released and was able to leave the cave. At first he had to adjust his eyes to the bright sun. All those years in the cave made his eyes hurt when he walked into the light. He was accustomed to the shadow and was not use to reality. His reality was the shadows. It was simple for them.
When he returned to the cave to tell his experience the other chained men felt that he should be killed.
This story reflects on the lives these men were use to. When taken out of there element, they felt a feeling of empowerment. Able to acquire more knowledge of the life outside the cave. Or in some cases it’s sometimes better if you don’t know or find out information because you might not want to accept it.
The last part is what you want: a summary of what the allegory means.
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