Prisoners Plight in Platos Cave Allegory

Prisoners Plight in Platos Cave AllegoryThrough the interactive oral, I learned or so the prisoners plight in Platos hollow out allegory. In the allegory, at that place are prisoners, chained, and facing a wall with a fire crapper them. Objects are held up, casting shadows on the walls. The prisoners are sole(prenominal) capable to go to the projected shadows therefore, the prisoners could mistake these shadows for reality. If a prisoner were to be released and leave the cave, they would be unreasoninged by the light and realize their error. A recurring topic in Sophocles Oedipus the King is sight and concealmentness and this motif is revealed as the prisoners in the allegory are mirrored by the characters during their journey to enlightenment.Firstly, Tiresias, in semblance to Platos cave allegory, is the individual outside of the cave who is all- crafty, arrangement the falsity of what the prisoners perceive. His noesis of the rectitude is clear as it is Tiresias wh o reveals Oedipus crimes to him, setting him off on a journey of self- discovery however, Oedipus hubris enables him from realizing the entire loyalty.An different character go throughn as a prisoner in the cave allegory is Jocasta, who experiences life both intimate and outside of the cave. When she is inside the cave, she lacks the vision and shrewdness to put one over Oedipus true identity. However, at once free, she is no longer blind therefore, she realizes that she has not th fightted hatful, but has action it by bedding her son, who is too her husband. Upon reflection, it throw out be seen that for Jocasta, ignorance is bliss she would quite deceive herself and believe in an illusion, than blend with the law.The allegory can also apply to Oedipus who, like Jocasta, has spent most of his lifetime inside the cave. though given a glimpse of reality by Tiresias, his tragic flaw, his pride, prevents him from understanding the entire right. Ultimately, Oedipus realiz es the accuracy, but his realization leads to his figurative demise as he blinds himself. In this way, Oedipus is forced to live in darkness though he knows the truth and is outside the cave.Considering the interactive oral, my understanding of the characters struggle of sight and blindness was further developed as the motif is illustrated through the prisoners in Platos cave allegory and depicted by different characters in Sophocles Oedipus the King.The Inevit cleverness of accuracySophocles was an Ancient Greek writer whose works are considered as classics to this day. His tragedies tenderize insight into the social and political condition of Ancient Greek and a great deal have deep, underlying messages. In one of his best kn consume tragedies, Oedipus the King, Sophocles uses the motif of sight and blindness as a metaphor for insight and familiarity. temporary hookup the physically blind prophet Tiresias is the only character who has insight, the protagonist, Oedipus, is b lind to the particular that he has already fallen into his fate. Likewise, Jocasta, the wife of Oedipus, is metaphorically blind to the truth and automatic to live in ignorance rather than knowing the truth. Regardless of willingness to claim the truth, Tiresias, Jocasta, and Oedipus ultimately achieve sight which represents familiarity of the truth, paralleling the inevit skill of fate.though physically blind, Tiresias has far more insight and knowledge than the other characters, even knowing the truth about Oedipus identity. When Oedipus arrives in Corinth, Tiresias recognizes him and refuses to reveal the truth, knowing that truth is harsh. unaccompanied when Oedipus jeers him, Tiresias suggests that Oedipus himself is Laius murderer and the subject of the prophecy.TIRESIAS That human macrocosms, I recite, is here a stranger in our midst, they thought, but in a moment you shall see him openly displayed a Theban born, and shattered by the honor. Blind instead of seeing, b eggar instead of rich, hell grope his way in foreign parts, tapping out his war with stick in hand. (Sophocles 26)Despite his blindness, Tiresias is not afraid of Oedipus because he knows the truth. Therefore, he holds an advantage over Oedipus and offers hints about the man he seeks, clearly stating that man is here. Though Oedipus has insulted Tiresias, he is unwilling to reveal the harsh reality. Instead, he leaves Oedipus with an juiceless riddle in which he refers to Oedipus as a stranger in our midst since Oedipus is a stranger to himself he does not know he is the man whom he so desperately seeks. Furthermore, Tiresias claims Oedipus will be able to see this stranger, which is also ironic since Oedipus, who can physically see at the moment, is unable to recognize the truth behind Tiresias message. Finally, he foreshadows Oedipus future as a poor, blind man in this way, Tiresias directly refers to Oedipus peripeteia, the reversal of his situation. Therefore, Tiresias metaphor ical sight allows him to recognize fate and its working, unlike Oedipus whose pride blinds him to his fate.Like Oedipus, Jocasta can see physically, but is a victim of metaphorical blindness and is willing to live a life of ignorance rather than live with the truth. Jocasta, too, receives hints of Oedipus reality passim the play, but deliberately tests to ignore them, choosing ignorance over truth. When Jocasta realizes the truth before Oedipus, she begs him to gunpoint his pursuit in order to prevent future pain.JOCASTA Yet be persuaded, please. Do not proceed.OEDIPUS Persuaded from the truth? Pursuing it? I must.JOCASTA God divine service you, Oedipus Hide it from you who you are. (Sophocles 59)Learning the truth about Oedipus identity devastates Jocasta as she begs Oedipus in a frantic and desperate tone. Her despair is further established as she even pleads to God to help Oedipus this is a bitter concession of her sentiment in the index of the gods over chance. Ironically, prior to Jocastas revelation of the truth, she was a untroubled believer in chance and mocked the gods, clearly rejecting the oracles sayings. Once she has achieved metaphorical sight, she has no choice but to acknowledge the power of the gods however, the truth pains Jocasta and she wishes to deliver to her old life of ignorance as seen in her attempt to dissuade Oedipus in his own journey to uncover the truth. She desperately begs Oedipus to hide from the reality of his identity. By hiding from his own self and the truth of his identity, Oedipus would be concealed from the knowledge of the bleak and bitter truth that he is the murderer of Laius who wed his own mother his sight would be concealed and the truth would be prevented from being discovered. Therefore, knowing that the truth is harsh, Jocasta reveals her own wishes to live in ignorance rather than truth. Jocastas actualization of the truth points to the power of fate as she tries to prevent the truth from coming into the light, denying the veracity of oracle, which is ultimately all in vain and useless to the power of fate.Contrary to Tiresias, Oedipus has the ability to see physically however, his fatal flaw shadows his ability to see the truth, which ultimately leads to his ruination. In his attempt to discover the truth about the murder of Laius, he seeks Tiresias. After being insulted and mocked, Tiresias reveals hints about the truth Oedipus is blind toTIRESIAS I say, the murderer of the man whose murder you pursue is you.TIRESIAS I say that you and your most dearly loved are wrapped together in a hideous sin, blind to the horror of it.OEDIPUS You think you can go babbling unscathed?TIRESIAS Unscathed indeed, if truth is strength.OEDIPUS It is. But not for you, you visually impaired man in ears and mind and vision. (Sophocles 21)Despite the hints, Oedipus interprets Tiresias words as attacks of requital and cannot see past his own pride he is unable to see the truth even though it is la id in confront of him. Though Tiresias declares two truths, directly referring to Oedipus by using the words I say, you, Oedipus exactly disregards the repetition of Tiresias declarations and essentially his pride blinds him from realizing the truth of Tiresias words that are so barely laid out in front of him. Furthermore, Oedipus goes on to mock Tiresias physical blindness, which is ironic given that it is in fact Oedipus who is blind to the truth despite his ability to see physically. Therefore, Tiresias is Oedipus only hope of knowing the truth however, it is Oedipus own pride that prevents him from accepting the hints of truth. Since Oedipus had many opportunities to recognize the truth early and avoid his fate, his inability to detect these hints collectable to his fatal flaw makes his downfall even harsher.The skills and strengths that allow Oedipus to achieve status and glory also fight Oedipus to his destruction therefore, his strengths also play as his weaknesses and lead to both his overture and ultimate downfall. Although many associated with Oedipus, including his parents, attempt to prevent fate, it is Oedipus true lack of knowledge caused by his pride, which leads to his downfall. When Oedipus discovers the truth, he gouges out his eyes, physically blinding himself from the reality. After accomplishment about the harsh reality, he exclaims, How terrible- to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees (Sophocles 154). Through this act, Oedipus makes a transition from metaphorical blindness to insight by physically blinding himself. Now that Oedipus is fully awake(predicate) he has fulfilled the prophecy he tried so desperately to avoid, he becomes overwhelmed by the physical light in which he was metaphorically blind and seeks refuge in the dark. Since he is unable to handle reality, he chooses to live in physical darkness which allows him to reflect on his actions in an attempt to absolve his guilt. This act can also be see n as a way for Oedipus to punish himself, perhaps reducing his guilt and pain. Now aware of the reality, Oedipus acknowledges that along his journey, there were many truths laid out in front of him, but he was unable to recognize them. In this way, he realizes that the truth is only painful to the one who can see it. Ironically, in the end, Oedipus becomes physically what he has always metaphorically been blind. Therefore, it is Oedipus own fatal flaw that blinds him from the truth and ultimately causes his downfall.Thus, by the end of the play, Tiresias, Jocasta, and Oedipus are fully aware of the truth, though it is too late to reverse or manipulate any of fates doings. Tiresias, who possesses the ability to see the truth, is physically blind and taken lightly by the other characters who fail to heed his warnings and recognize the truth laid barely in front of them. Despite Jocastas rejection of the oracles message and Oedipus decision to ignore the oracles words due to metaphoric al blindness, the predictions become truth by the end of the play. Therefore, the opportunities to avoid or change fate depend on the ability to understand and see the truth. It is only if these opportunities are taken that fate can be manipulated otherwise, fate will continue in motion.