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Plato's Allegory of the Cave

Topics: Fast food, Fast food restaurant, French fries Pages: 2 (668 words) Published: October 11, 2011
People’s perception on reality is not always true. Those are mistaken for ideas they believe is reality. This is what Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” was based on. According to the text, the prisoners are sitting in a cave, chained from their legs to their neck so they cannot move. The prisoners are watching images cast on the wall with fire blazing above and behind them. They cannot grasp true reality, which are shadows intentionally made by men. They were forced to have one idea; and if anyone tried to lead a prisoner to the light, they would be killed. A prisoner is soon set free from the chains and forced to watch everything from the outside. He needed much adjustment, but soon he had a much deeper view of reality. When he went back into the cave to explain his new outlook, he was rejected. Plato’s ideas of reality are similar to those of modern situations we have in today’s society such as, childhood myths and fast food restaurants.

Childhood myths have been around for numerous years. Santa Claus is one well-known myth in which children believe in. By their elders, the ones they trust most, children are forced to believe whatever they do affects their reward, come Christmas. When in reality, it is a bribe technique for parents. According to the myth, he watches every child’s actions over the course of the year. At the end of the year, he goes to each child’s home to leave presents, or nothing, depending on their behavior. Children are so convinced Santa is real, that even when told the truth they are unable to cope with the situation and want to go back to believing. In the “Allegory of the Cave,” the prisoners have their necks chained so they cannot look in any direction for any clues for what is real. These children are the prisoners, who are focused on one happy idea, and nothing else.

Fast food restaurant owner are the puppeteers that feed people with faulty images. Take McDonalds for example. They created catchy logos with a dancing clown and...
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