Book Review Essay
Part I Mandatory Questions
- The problem of appearance and reality is perhaps the central theme of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.
- Explain what is meant by this distinction, and what do you believe is the central moral of the Allegory of the Cave as it relates to it? What is the problem here? Why is it a problem?
“Allegory of the Cave” by Plato, is a reflection on the difference between appearance and reality. Besides, based on Plato’s perspective, this distinction implies that there exists an appearances world and real world. Moreover, in my opinion, the central moral of the Allegory of the Cave is that the perception of humans cannot obtain actual knowledge. However, real knowledge can be obtained only through philosophical reasoning. For instance, in Plato’s context, prisoners live their whole lives within a cave, only having the capability to see shadows. According to them, the shadows are reality (Plato, 2017). When one of the prisoners escapes and perceives that life originates from the sun, he realizes that his original perception rooted in human understanding was not right. When he comes back to inform his colleagues(prisoners), they fail to believe him since they still depend on their knowledge (p.87). Also, the main problem evident in this scenario is ignorance and hostility among the prisoners. For instance, based on Plato’s context, prisoners are ignorant and commit their lives to pursue shadows rather than real things. Besides, this is a problem since individuals, for example, prisoners comfortably live in their ignorance and become hostile to every individual who makes attempts to free them from ignorance. For instance, the prisoners planned and killed the individual who broke out and returned to assist them.
- Drawing on this distinction (Part a), how does this issue manifest in Shakespeare’s Othello? How does this problem manifest concern Othello as a character and his situation? Among other things, address why the main character so vulnerable to individual false appearances? How does it relate to Iago as a character and his plot?
In Othello, the issue of appearance and reality exhibits itself through the eventual villain, Lago. He controls other primary characters in favor of his evil ends, whereas concurrently pretends to work on behalf of anyone he is addressing, and enduring civility for all. The problem of reality is manifested by Othello and his situation when Lago controls Othello to see the appearance he wants him to see, rather than the truth about what is occurring. Besides, this is evident in the instance whereby Lago influences Othello to observe Desdemona and Cassio speak. Another situation is apparent in a scenario whereby Lago controls Othello to watch him converse with Cassio about Bianca (Plato, 2017). As a result, these two instances display the problem of appearance and reality concerning Othello, who is manipulated by Lago to observe appearance that Lago wants him to observe instead of seeing the truth regarding the actual occurrence (p.103). Furthermore, the problem of appearance and reality relates to Lago by creating a situation whereby the rest of the main characters consider him as an honest or ethical Lago. The rest of the characters are not aware that Lago’s main intention is to control them to observe the appearance of what he expects them to see instead of seeing the sad reality.
- Provide and cite specific examples (plural) of the problem of appearance and reality in Othello: Compare and contrast the symbolic meanings of the shadows on the cave wall with various appearances in the play that appear to him to be “ocular proof” of his wife’s infidelities (numerous examples fit this bill).
The problem of appearance and reality is evident in Othello through the deceptive nature of Lagos, which is demonstrated by various instances or examples as subsequently presented. The quote, “I follow him to serve my turn upon him” is one of the cases showing the problem of appearance and reality as portrayed in Othello. About this quote or instance, Lago intends to pretend that he is loyal to Othello, to make Othello believe that he is a trustworthy servant. In reality, he is deceitful and does not want Othello to realize his real intentions (p.124). Also, the quote by Othello, which states that “so please your grace, my ancient: A man he is of honesty and trust,” clearly demonstrates the problem of appearance and reality in Othello. In this scenario, it is very ironic (Plato, 2017). In contrast, the audience is informed that Lago is not loyal to Othello; Othello has been influenced to assume that Lago is an honest man. Consequently, this validates humanity’s deceptive nature and brings out the appearance and reality in Othello.
Part II
- Explain precisely what an allegory is and interpret the hidden meaning behind the various critical elements of the Allegory of the Cave in Plato’s Book VII of the Republic. Use your imagination.
- Provide comprehensive analysis and interpretation of the meaning of the Allegory of the Cave. Do so by considering the following items (listed below) identified in the story.
‘The Allegory of the Cave” is a theory supported by Plato about human perception. Plato asserts that knowledge obtained through the sensitivity is not above opinion and that to establish real knowledge, we have to acquire it through philosophical reasoning (Plato, 2017). The symbolic meaning of the Allegory of the Cave is based on the allegory elements, as subsequently presented. The cave depicts individuals who assume that knowledge originates from what we observe as well as whatever we hear. The prisoners describe individuals who are preoccupied with superficial appearances related to the world.
Moreover, the chains which shackle the prisoners’ heads and bodies symbolize that prisoners are trapped in ignorance since the chains are hindering them from realizing the truth. The significance of them being like this from “childhood” implies that individuals preoccupied in the shadows are subjected to ignorance from an earlier stage of their personal lives. The shadows on the wall depict perceptions of individuals who assume that empirical evidence guarantees knowledge. If an individual believes that what he or she sees needs to be considered as truth, then the individual is merely observing the shadow related to reality. The raised walls portray the limitation associated with the individual’s thinking (Plato, 2017). Besides, the various objects which cast the shadows on the wall symbolize the apparent truth, which is the deception that prisoners observe within the cave. The fire that produces the light used to cast the shadows symbolizes prisoners’ limitation to knowledge as they observe it. The fire deprives them of sight from the truth that exists past everything that they know. The prisoners’ act or process to be able to turn their heads and see behind them and then leave the cave and see the world outside the cave represent the contemplation process whereby individuals get involved before deciding to embrace the truth or reality. Also, the long passageway out of the cave and its “rough, steep, upward way” refers to the various challenges that individuals encounter when making attempts to differentiate reality from illusion or appearances.
Furthermore, the world outside the cave symbolizes the real world. The sun outside the cave or other source of light symbolizes the form associated with the good. The disorientation related to adjusting to the light when individuals leave the cave represents the confusion that arises when an individual is exposed to reality rather than illusion. The struggle represents the resistance that an individual encounters within himself when making attempts to adjust to reality (Plato, 2017). Moreover, the disorientation upon readjusting to returning to the cave portrays the confusion that individuals encounter after having the capability to distinguish between reality, appearance, or illusion. Ultimately, the individuals who return to the cave from the outside world are considered so ridiculous because they have a contrasting perception about how they view things.
References
Plato, J. B. (2017). The Allegory of the Cave.