“Plato’s Cave

Just as Plato said that prisoners were unable to recognize the reality outside of the cave until being released and exposed to it, my illustration shows that these same individuals need to break out of this cycle before they can truly understand truth and accept new ideas. Although our society may have different sources for knowledge than those described in his allegory (i.e., media instead of shadows), this concept still holds up today: we should always strive to question any limiting beliefs we may have acquired over time so that we can free ourselves from unfounded assumptions and open our minds up to new ways of thinking.

Sample Solution

My illustration is a retelling of Plato's allegory through the lens of a modern-day world. Instead of prisoners in a cave, my image shows people walking around in circles on an escalator, trapped in their own thoughts and beliefs. The characters are illuminated by the light from their cell phones and computers, which create blinders for them to only see what society tells them is true or important. This creates a cycle that keeps them from seeing or understanding anything outside of what they are told to think—a metaphorical representation of Plato’s Cave Allegory.