Honorable Mention in Prose

Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" Is Relevant To Today's Society
by Thea Dean

In today's society, the alcoholic's struggle to attain and maintain sobriety is one example providing proof that Plato's philosophy is as relevant to modern day society as it was in his lifetime.  His Allegory of the Cave reads like a blueprint for the alcoholic's ascension into sobriety.  Comparing contemporary alcoholic James T. to Plato's prisoner illustrates how education and enlightenment can lead to a greater good, for not just the individual, but society as well.

In the Allegory of the Cave, Plato utilizes the parable of prisoners chained in cave unable to move, only able to see one wall, and the shadows projected upon it by a fire at the other end of the cave, noise and voices distorted by the echoes.  This distortion keeps the prisoners in a netherworld, separated from reality and truth (548).  The prisoners are released, the movement and light causes pain.  When told his former life and beliefs in the shadows was false, and this new life of pain in the blinding light is real, he runs back into the cave. (548)  Again, he is dragged from the cave back into the light of truth, and forced to stay until he accepts reality (548).  The prisoner reflects upon his former life and beliefs in the cave, still held by the ones left behind (549).  He understands how much better he is to know the truth, and would rather be among the poorest of the poor than go back to his former state of becoming, a world known only through physical senses (549).  This new knowledge of the truth brings him into the world of being; thoughts, ideas, concepts that allows the mind, and soul to comprehend the physical world (549).  Now that he has accepted reality he must continue his education until he attains the highest level of good he can. But, against his wishes he is compelled to return to the cave to teach others and lead them, out of darkness, into the light of truth and reality also (551).  Only then does he reach his greatest state of good (552).  For who is more qualified to teach the prisoners, chained in the darkness of ignorance, than a former prisoner.

Plato's allegory begins with people chained in a dark cave, prisoners, unable to see around themselves, "they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another" (547).  The state of these prisoners are mirrored in the life of the alcoholic James; living in an atmosphere tolerant to liquor consumption, he begins drinking while still a teenager.  As he grows through his twenties, so does his alcohol consumption.  After receiving his sixth or seventh Driving Under the Influence charge, the court mandates he attend Alcoholic's Anonymous meetings for one year.  However, this does not curb his drinking.  As years pass, between a few brief periods of sobriety, his drinking escalates, until his wife files for divorce.  And like the prisoner he is forced into the painful light of reality.  He must choose a life alone, chained to his addiction, or sobriety with his family.

The prisoner freed from his bonds "is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he is forced into the presence of the sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated?...He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world" (548).  The plight of the prisoner corresponds with that of the alcoholic.  James, fearful of the changes truth will bring, is reluctant to admit to, and take responsibility for, the pain his actions has caused, but his wife's filing for divorce forces him to painfully scrutinize himself.  He realizes he does not want to lose his family, so he chooses sobriety.  Utilizing techniques learned years earlier from Alcoholic's Anonymous, determined, yet knowing he could not maintain sobriety on his own, he turns to God.  In Plato's allegory it is said of the prisoner, "And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the den and his fellow prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?" (549).  James, after reading the Bible and reflecting on his former haunts, barrooms and jail cells, he no longer wants to return to his former life. Now, desiring to learn more about God, he starts attending church.

Plato states; The business of us who are the founders of the State will be to compel the best minds to attain that knowledge which we have already shown to be the greatest of all--they must continue to ascent until they arrive at the good; but when they have ascended and seen enough we must not allow them to do as they do now....they remain in the upper world: but this must not be allow; they must be made to descend again among the prisoners in the den, and partake of their labors and honors, whether they are worth having or not. (551)

Now attending church, James does not sit idle in the pews, but he participates in many different capacities.  He plays the guitar, drives the van, teaches an adult Sunday school class, first through fifth grade boys Wednesday night class.  Every year he uses a week of his vacation time from work to teach a class in Vacation Bible School, as well as another week to attend Falls Creek church camp as a sponsor.  He is a fully ordained deacon and participates in most of the youth activities, as well as many other miscellaneous activities.  These pursuits provide endless opportunities for him to share his testimony.  As Plato asserts, "Whereas the truth is that the State in which the rulers are most reluctant to govern is always the best and most quietly governed" (552), James had no thoughts or desire to teach others, yet he has become not only a teacher, but an inspiration to many, not only with words but also by the way he lives his life.

The comparing of James to the prisoner shows how education and enlightenment has lead James to a greater good, which has also been good for society.  By taking what he has learned from his years of drinking and enlightenment through sobriety, and using this in his testimony and ministry, James has helped to lead many others out of the darkness of ignorance.  To ensure civil society continues, we must follow his lead, get off the pew, take action, share our knowledge with others.  We must strive always to bring the less fortunate out of the cave.  How do you use your knowledge, your own personal gain, or take what you have learned and use it to help others, which will benefit society as a whole, the choice is yours.

Works Cited

Plato. “The Allegory of the Cave.”  The Power of Language: The Language of Power. 2nd ed. Ed. Jessica Isaacs XE "Jessica Isaacs" , Jeff Cox, Christian Morgan, Kelli McBride XE "Kelli McBride" , and Rachel Jackson.  Boston: Pearson, 2006.  547-552.

Back to Prose Index