Allegory of the cave

The story starts with a dilemma, three prisoners were kept in captivity inside a dark cave, their back

against the wall blocking the view from the entrance, the only light they could see is a fire started in

front of them, this fire created shadows from variety of things passing by the cave’s entrance.

The three prisoners grew up in this kind of environment, they were accustomed to such reality so it’s

not shocking that they perceive this as their truth. Then one day one prisoner broke out of his shackles

went outside then witnessed a world different from what he knows is the reality. At first, he was blinded

by the new world, this is because of the fact that what he perceived as reality was a dark place that is

inhabited by shadows. Then he adjusted to the new reality, for the first time he witnessed colors other

than black, felt the warm embrace of the sun, his face from the waters reflection and he witnessed the

real reality. The escaped prisoner went back inside the cave to tell stories about the reality outside the

cave and to free them from the illusion that the truth is inside the cave. The two shackled prisoner

refused to listen to his words, believing that the reality is what they have grown accustomed to and that

is inside the dark cave.

The allegory presents multiple ideas, two of this are first the possibility of a reality outside of what we

are comfortable with and the second one is how society treats those who does not follow the social

norms. Ignorance is a bliss to some people that is why they stay inside their comfort zone, but why not

step outside the box and explore possibilities, you might be able to ask yourself is what I’ve experienced

was the reality or a mere illusion.