Plato is using the prisoners to show us, readers, that as members of society, we are also constantly being manipulated and deceived. Throughout the allegory, the prisoners, in the cave were constantly being deceived and manipulated. These prisoners represent the members of society who are not enlightened and or people in general. There are puppet-handlers set in front of the human beings and over which they show the puppets (Republic 514a-514b). Between the fire and the prisoners, there is a road above, along which we see a wall. Their light is from a fire burning far above and behind them. This means that they can only see what is in front of them. These humans are in this cave for their entire childhood with their legs and necks in bonds. The allegory begins with Socrates telling Glaucon to see human beings as though they were imprisoned in an underground cave. The main protagonist of PlatoвЂ™s вЂњAllegory of the CaveвЂќ is Socrates, and he speaks to a person named Glaucon throughout the allegory. Many elements in the вЂњAllegory of the CaveвЂќ are metaphors for elements in society. PlatoвЂ™s вЂњAllegory of the CaveвЂќ could be a critique to Athenian Society and or society in general. Plato uses the вЂњAllegory of the CaveвЂќ as a tool to show us, readers, his views on society and true knowledge. One of PlatoвЂ™s most notable works and most famous allegory was the вЂњAllegory of the CaveвЂќ. He would later become one of the most influential philosophers of all time. Explain, analyze, and interpret PlatoвЂ™s вЂњAllegory of the CaveвЂќ from Book VII of Republic (p.193-198 514a-519b).В Plato was an ancient Athenian Philosopher who studied under fellow philosopher Socrates.

Socrates allegory of the cave