Allegory Of The Cave

From the first line of the essay (“Next, said I, here is a parable to illustrate the degrees in which our nature may be enlightened or unenlightened” [paragraph 1, line 1]), we see that enlightenment, or the gaining of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom on a subject, is an essential thematic component of “The Allegory of the Cave.” Through the allegory itself, enlightenment is literalized as physical light and the ability to see. The prisoners are trapped in literal darkness in the cave, which represents their ignorance of the true form of things. Instead, all they see are shadows. It is only by turning to the light—first the fire, then the outside world—that they can come to the knowledge of the true forms of things.

The Platonic Socrates makes note, however, that enlightenment is neither easy nor always comfortable, saying, “In the world of knowledge, the last thing to be perceived and only with great difficulty is the essential Form of Goodness” (paragraph 31, line 9). This difficulty is also represented in the metaphor through the pain the prisoner experiences, who has only known darkness, when he is at last shone the light.

Not only is enlightenment difficult and painful, Socrates also suggests that it comes with responsibility. The dialogue of this section ends with Socrates’ assertion that philosophers are the only suitable rulers, and the purpose of enlightenment is “not that each should be left to go his own way, but that they should be instrumental in binding the community into one” (paragraph 47, line 6).