Practice Essay

They see a light, but think nothing of it because what more is a shadow on the cave than something they’ll never see? Plato’s Allegory of the Cave higlights on humans way to conform to thinking. If something did happen outside of the cave that would cause distraction or distorment of some sort, the prisoners inside would only be mildy interested because they wouldn’t understand how to feel or understand for themselves than take someone elses understanding on something. Plato’s way of describing how people think can be compared to how Sartre uses hell as an allegory of people ‘s thinking. The actions took to portay his point in his literature work is seen through his various literature techniques which, in comparison,  are similar to Sartre.

The prisoners in the cave can be said to be conformists, or people who choose to follow society’s way of thinking. They opt out of the option of taking in the whole world and taking their own learning into their hands. So if it came to an event happening and the prisoners were to intake of the moment, they wouldn’t have much to contribute because they can’t understand. Plato’s point in the allegory is to show humanity’s way of thinking. He displays his point through heavy use of allegories and symbols. The cave is an extended metaphor for what keeps our minds sheltered and the shackles symbolize our way of restraining our thinking. How the prisoner responds not only reflects how they have been brought up through symbolism and allegories but it shows the type of characters they are. They are the characters in the story who are placemats, single sided, and are there just to be there. They can’t provide much besides another perspective of minimal experience. But unlike Plato’s prisoner’s, Sartre’s characters like Garcon would act differently.

            Compared to the stagnant reactions of the prisoner, a person like Garcon would more than likely be more dramatic about the situation then ask, “What’s the point?”. Unlike the prisoner’s, Garcon has the ability to see the reality and understand but will not choose to believe the reality of the situation. His character can also be characterized as an ignorant bystander. Similar to the prisoners but at the same, different. All in all, just like how both stories are contrasting, the characters reacting to the same event are just as contrasting.

            Plato and Satre try to get the same point across using different types of techniques. Although the characters in each story are characteristically opposites, their outlook on life and thinking can be said to be similar. The allegories and symbols drastically help achieve the point of both story tellers. In the end, the cave and hell are only a mindset meant to be breaking from