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Plato's Allegory of the Cave - Perspective from a Folklorist

© Virginia Marin

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Outer space, the ocean deep and subterranean Earth are often referred to as the last frontiers--each possesses indescribable beauty while challenging man to the limits of human endurance. But lately, it has been proposed that the human mind is actually the last frontier. In light of such an allegation, this writing takes the reader into Plato's Allegory of the Cave in an attempt to consider some dimensions of life, or quasi-life, found in folklore...

In your mind's eye envision Plato's cave.

In this cave are so arranged the people that they can only see the back wall, for they wear chains around their necks and ankles which prevent their free movement.

Projected onto the wall of the cave are shadows from outside the cavern, which are concluded by the subterranean dwellers, to be real people.

Now, one of the dwellers, at a certain point in his wanderings, is able, with a great deal of pain and fortitude, to turn toward the cave's opening for a brief moment in time.

He realizes what the shadows indicate: that there is a different world of sunshine and color on the other side of the opening unbeknown to the inhabitants of the cave.

At once, urgency consumes his being to move toward the light. When he attempts to exist the cave, the heat on his withered, white skin scortches him to the bone. The sunlight further blinds him and his salamander existence cries out to the gods to spare him from an unforseen and torturous death.

Plato uses this story--The Allegory of the Cave, from his Republic, to illustrate many of his ideas as well as myths and mysteries of the universe. He succinctly informs us that all people are not gifted with the same vision, the same ability to see, to understand or comprehend. What is clear and obvious to some can neither be seen nor understood by others. There ARE mysteries beyond the limits of finite understanding.

It is not unusual for people to find it difficult to believe what they cannot comprehend. That is one reason why so few people believe in the existence of fairy folk, ghost or even angels, for example. They often distrust or fear what they do not believe, and sometimes even what they do believe.

There is credence among some today, as was in Plato's age, that supernatural beings, yea, even races of thinking beings live underground. Belief in subterranean life is not new, nor can it be belied. In Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere there is considerable belief in trolls and knockers who habitate underground. Then there is belief in demons that are thought to be confined in deep earth. There is belief among some that the Devil and his angels inhabit the bowels of planet Earth while still others believe the first and second atmospheric heavens are the present abodes of the Devil and his fallen angels. Because one does not believe in these creatures does not prove they do not exist. Likewise, just because one believes in their existence is not proof that they do.

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