Allegory Cave Comparison Essay

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I have chosen to compare the Allegory Cave to The Madman for two reasons. The first being given with a set of quotes.

To begin with, this section of the Allegory Cave is a perfect example of what the “madman’s” experience was with the towns people. Even the very act of him being called such a name shows us the similarity. “And if there were a contest, and he had to compete in measuring the shadows with the prisoners who had never moved out of the cave, while his sight was still weak, and before his eyes had become steady (and the time which would be needed to acquire this new habit of sight might be very considerable) would he not be ridiculous? Men would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes; and that it was better …show more content…
“someone saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision.”

Followed by the villagers reactions to that act. “And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him?”

In the next two quotes are examples of what is needed to soften the ears of the towns people. The first speaks of the pains one will have to endure from the lessons. The second, is an example of the pain being faced with a defining moment/epiphany, or tragedy.
1. “he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive.”
2. “he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he's forced into the presence of the sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called
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