Allegory of the Cave

In the allegory, the prisoners represent...

• philosophers forced to live among the nomal people

• Aristotle's students

• people who do not realize that they are not seeing reality

• children

The shadows represent...

• knowledge that sadness can overwhelm

• blank stares

• hidden images

• knowledge/beliefs we gain from others and accept as true

Being shackled represents...

• Anything that sets one free

• Anything that keeps an individual from learning

• Anything that contributes to knowledge

• Anything that keeps an individual in line

The prisoners symbolize...

• unenlightened people

• homeless people

• people in prison

• people who have never read a book

The light represents...

• god

• reality

• goodness

• hope