Plato's Allegory Of The Cave
A Springboard For The Matrix

Author: Dew

The Cave And The Matrix Towers

In Book VII of The Republic, Plato tells a story entitled "The Allegory Of The Cave." He begins the story by describing a dark underground cave where a group of people are sitting in one long row with their backs to the cave's entrance. Chained to their chairs from an early age, all the humans can see is the distant cave wall in from of them. Their view of reality is soley based upon this limited view of the cave which but is a poor copy of the real world.

In addition to the chained people, there are other people in the cave. Plato refers to them as the puppet-handlers and they are the ones holding those in the cave captive. (It is important to realize that the prisoners do not realize this--in fact, the prisoners do not even realize that they are being held captive since this existence is all they have ever known.) Walking behind the prisoners, the puppet-handlers hold up various objects found in the real world. Due to a fire that is burning the mouth of the cave, the prisoners are able to see the objects and each other only as distorted, flickering shadows on the cavern wall in front of them.

Unfortunately, the prisoners can not see the actual objects or the puppet-makers because they are unable to turn their heads. From childhood, "...their legs and necks [have been] in bonds so that they are fixed, seeing only [what is] in front of them.... As Plato goes on to later explain, "the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images."

The movie, "The Matrix," parallels Platos's Allegory Of The Cavein a number of ways. Similar to the prisoners of the cave, the humans trapped in the matrix (the cave) only see what the machines (the modern day puppet-handlers) want them to see. They are tricked into believing that what they hear in the cave and see before them is the true reality that exists. Furthermore, they accept what their senses are telling them and they believe that what they are experiencing is all that really exists--nothing more.

However, Neo is forced to face a painful truth when he is removed from the pod that has kept him trapped in the virtual reality of the matrix.

Neo discovers that what he has been presented with his entire life is only reflections, or merely shadows of the truth. This theme is carried throughout the movie as we see many objects (as well as Neo himself) reflected in other objects.

The Puppet-Handlers

The puppet-handlers, as Plato calls them, represent the influential, powerful members of society. In "The Matrix," the puppet-handlers are the machines spawned from a singular consciousness called AI (Artifical Intelligence.) Basically, the puppet-handlers in both cases use artifical surroundings as a way to control and manipulate the information that the prisoners receive.

And while the prisoners are being fooled and influenced by the false reality presented to them, so too are the puppet-handlers, to some extent, because they are also living inside the artifical world they have created as well.

Note how towards the end of the "The Matrix," Agent Smith, a computer simulation, begins to express human emotions such as anger and hatrid. Since he has to live in the false reality of the matrix, the agent has begun to adapt to his environment, the very prison-like surroundings he helped create for his captives. In fact, he is becoming more and more like the enslaved humans that he is despises.

The Shadows

The shadows in both stories play a crucial role in shaping the prisoners' view the world. In fact, it is the shadows (which are only half-truths) that serve as the basis for the prisoners' false or distorted sense of reality.

The repetitive use of mirrors and reflected images in the move "The Matrix" serve to remind us of this fact.

In "The Matrix," the machines use "shadows" (series of code which together make up the matrix world) to occupy the humans and keep them under their control. The prisoners of the cave and the matrix are shown only shadows of the real objects, in part, because the puppet-handlers believe that the truth would be too painful for the prisoners to accept. Besides, it is easier to pacify the prisoners and keep them happy (and under control) by supplying them with only half-truths since most will be uncooperative and try to escape if they learn that are in captivity.

The Freed Man

In "Allegory of The Cave," Plato goes on to present the hypothesis that one of the prisoners (who he often referred to as the philosopher or intellectual) would eventually be released or escape from his chains and flee the cave.

After turning around in his chair, this philosopher/intellectual would then be able to see the real objects that are casted as only shadows on the cave wall as well as the puppet-handlers who are holding these objects.

In the movie, "The Matrix" this scene directly parallels with Neo's scene in the matrix pod. Looking around in shock, Neo sees, for the first time, his true surroundings. He is actually living in a human factory.

At first, Plato says that the Freed Prisoner would be confused at what he saw. "He [would] suffer sharp pains; the glare [would] distress him, and he [would] be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows....he'd be at a loss and believe that what was seen before is truer than what is now shown." As for Neo, when he is finally confronted with the truth surrounding the matrix, Neo is in a state of confusion and denial. In fact, the realization of the true is so overwhelming that he throws up and passes out.

As pointed out in "The Allegory Of The Cave," the Freed Man might even feel that what he was seeing now was the illusion and the shadows on the wall were actually more real. Like Cypher tells Trinity, "I think the matrix can be more real than this world."

Plato also goes on to sugguest that the freed prisoner would not only be shock over the realization of his true existance, but that he would suffer physical pain: "And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take in the objects of vision which he is able to see without pain, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him?" Like Neo, who says "I can't go back, can I?" the freed prisoner's first reaction would be to turn around (return to the false reality) because it is less painful and more familar to him.

Interestingly enough, Plato even ponders with the ideas that the bonds holding the prisoners to their chairs may actually be mental rather than physical in nature; in another words, if the prisoners really wanted to escape from the cave, they could do so by simply willing themselves to get up and walk out. (Note that in "The Matrix" that Morpheus is able to break free of his handcuffs with the use of his mental powers as well as physical strength.)

With these thoughts in mind, it is important to realize, at least accorind to Plato, that the Freed Man must have started to question what he saw in front of him and wondered about the origin of the shadows and if there was anything else beyond the cave wall that he saw before him. He must have sensed something was wrong and he sought out the truth. In fact, this is the only way that a prisoner is able to escape--it has to be the result of him making a choice and wanting to learn the truth.

This theme is also found in the movie, "The Matrix." Neo is portrayed very must like the freed prisoner. As Morpheus tells Neo, "You're here because you know something. What you know you can't explain. But you feel it. You've felt it your entire life. That there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is but it's there, like a splinter in your mind driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me."

Freedom From The Cave

In addition, Plato gives the reader an account of what it would happen if the freed prisoner were to forced out of the cave and into the reality of the real world. As he explains:

"When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities... He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven....Last of he will be able to see the sun..."

As Plato pointed out, the sunlight would hurt the Freed Man's eyes, and leave him temporarily blind. It would take a lot of time and patience before he actually see, let alone come to fully comprehend, his new surroundings. Ironically, this is exactly what happened to Neo after he is removed from the matrix pod. When Neo questions why his eyes are sore, Morpheus tells him that it is because "You've never used them [your eyes] before."

At some point, Platos suggests that the Freed Man would most likely want to share his discovery of the real world with those still trapped in the cave and want to free them. However, he would have no desire to go back to his life in the cave; in fact, "...he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner." Eventually though, his desire to help his fellow prisoners would win out. (Note that this accurately describes the members of the Neb crew with the exception of Cypher.)

Upon returning to the cave, the freed prisoner would once again sit next beside the captives and tell them about the world that exists outside the cave. Of course, it would be very difficult for the Freed Man to adquately explain the real world, and in many ways, he would not be understood or believed no matter what he said. As Morpheus tells Neo while the two of them sit down and chat, "Unfortunately, no one can be told what the matrix is. You have to see it for yourself."

Dismissing his claims and laughing at him, the prisoners would most likely come to the conclusion that the Freed Man is insane, especially since they would realize that the Freed Man was having trouble re-adjusting to the dimly lit cave. In some respects, the Free Man, who has now become accustomed to the light, would now be blinded by the darkness.

In fact, the prisoners would even demonstrate hostility toward the free man if he persisted in his beliefs or tried to convince them to leave. They would not want to face the possibility that their idea of reality was flawed. In addition, prisoners would fear that they would become blind (unable to see the only reality they have ever known) if they left. As Plato explains, "Men would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes; and that it was better not even to think of ascending; and if any one tried to loose another and lead him up to the light, let them only catch the offender, and they would put him to death."

Here, Plato points out that prisoners would rather commit murder than allow anyone to take them out of the cave. They would fight to stay in the cave because it is the only world they have ever known and it is where they feel safe. In "The Matrix," Cypher kills several people in his quest to go back to the matrix (the cave).

Morpheus tells Neo the same thing in regard to the humans still plugged or trapped in the world of the matrix. "You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged [forced out of the matrix--the cave]. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it."

Society's Role In Our Lives

In conclusion, Plato's story of the cave brings up many philosophical points and most importantly, addresses the issue of society's role in our lives. To some degree, we are all influenced by the thoughts and actions of others; however, at the same time, we have the ability to question, draw our own conclusions, and ultimately make our own choices.

As Trinity tell Neo, "The Matrix can not tell you who you are." By being courageous enough to turn around and take the red pill, we, just like Neo and the Freed Man, are making the first step towards personal independence.