Allegory Of The Cave Ignorance

For someone who is oblivious to the truth, it may be quite difficult to understand when they are first introduced to it, especially when they have only known one reality their entire life and they are told that everything they have ever known is incorrect. It can take time to finally accept this truth, but once it is understood, it will change their life. In both “Allegory Of The Cave” by the philosopher Plato, and The Matrix by the Wachowskis’, it can be seen that when man is blinded by his own ignorance and given an opportunity to learn, he is pained by the visions of enlightenment, but with time, will seek out those who are not as knowledgeable, and teach them his ways. In both “Allegory of the Cave” and The Matrix …show more content…
The prisoners have been in the cave, chained up since they were born and don't understand that there is a whole world out there. Due to this lack of knowledge “to them… the truth [is] literally nothing but the shadows of the images” (Plato 1). They are too ignorant to understand the truth because they have never been exposed to anything different and have never tried anything new. The prisoners don't know that there is a truth, all they know is the shadows, but not the story behind the shadows and why they are there. The concept is very similar in The Matrix. Neo is one of the many people who thinks that the matrix is real. The matrix is actually a fake world where people work to create energy for the real world. Their world acts as batteries so that the actual real world can have energy. Everything in the matrix is false and there are agents that go around trying to make sure that everyone in the matrix stays there and doesn't escape. Neo one day went to work and the agents …show more content…
in Plato's “Allegory Of The Cave” when the escapee introduces and explains the real world to the prisoner, the prisoner will not fully grasp the idea at first. At first he will not fully accept or understand it and prefer the cave over the reality. However when they start to learn they will “grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And at first [they would] see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves” (Plato 2). The escapee has provided an opportunity for the prisoners to learn and it took time, but they finally understand their reality. It is understood to them that the cave was not how life was supposed to be and that shadows are only projections of real objects. It took time, but the prisoners finally understood that the shadows are not the reality but rather the object causing the shadow is the reality. This relates to how Neo did not first believe that the matrix was a real thing, but he slowly learned that it was. Morpheus suggests that they take Neo to see the Oracle so that she can tell him what is purpose is and if he really is the one. When they first arrive at the Oracles building and walk in,Neo sees a kid bend a spoon using nothing but his mind. Neo looks at the kid and sits