Plato's Allegory of the Cave_ Ng Yi Ting 1107345

Brief summary of Allegory of the Cave by Plato is that Plato played with the idea of what would happen.In the beginning it represents man’s condition as “chained in a cave,” with only a fire behind. He perceives the world by watching the shadows on the wall.  Sits in darkness with the false light of the fire and does not realize that this existence is wrong or lacking.

Plato next imagines in the Allegory of the Cave what would occur if the chained man were suddenly released from and go out into the world. Plato describes how some people would immediately be frightened and want to return to the cave and the familiar dark existence. Others would look at the sun and finally see the how the world is.

Therefore we can interpret Plato's work by watching the first Matrix film. The reality of the matrix is that it is “a construct” meant to keep people enslaved. When Morpheus asks Neo: “What is real? How do you define real?” He is echoing Platonic thought. Further he tells Neo: “No one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.” This definitely in a direct relationship to Plato’s views on the inability of language to convey truth or to free people from spiritual shackles.

Thus it is easy to see that Plato’s rather simple to be continues reinterpreted to present day. Whether or not a person agrees with Plato’s definition of truth and knowledge of his argument can inform interpretation of art, film, and literature since references to it are still in common and popular to be used.