The+Author's+Purpose

The Author's Purpose

Plato's purpose was to describe how there are some people who discover the underlying truths in life, while others are blinded by society. In //The Allegory of the Cave//, Plato uses symbolism to represent the process of enlightenment. For example, he uses a cave to symbolize the darkness in which people live in until they see the sunlight, or the reality of life. Their chains symbolize the pressure from society to conform and not seek the hidden truths that life holds.

The author's use of syntax also helps him get his message across to the reader. He makes his essay seem like a conversation between two people and breaks up the longer paragraphs with short sentences reaffirming what he had just said. Like after a paragraph about the difference between men coming out of the light or moving towards it he places the sentence, "That, he said, is a very just distinction" (Plato) to keep the discussion fluid.

Another tool that Plato took advantage of in his allegory was diction. He used powerful opposites, like the darkness of a cave and the light of sun to show how enlightenment can completely change a person. An example of his stong diction is, "the power and capacity of learning exists in the soul" (Plato) to show that it is a person's choice to step out of the darkness of their lives to see reality.

A final literary device that the author used to explain his purpose was allusions. He used a quote from //The Oddesey//, where Achilles states, "Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner?" (Plato) to show that to have nothing and be enlightened is far better than to have all the riches of the world and know nothing of reality.

What does the sunlight symbolize in Plato's allegory?