Plato's Allegory of the Cave

Plato's cave allegory is an analogy of an individual's journey from ignorance to enlightenment, as well as referring to his beliefs of the world of appearances, and the world of Reality. The individuals are chained within the cave by their legs and necks meaning they cant escape or move their heads, rendering them prisoners. The cave is dark, and there is a long, steep upward tunnel leading outside. Their only source of light within that …

…up, as he is the one who cannot see clearly now. If someone ever comes down to set them free, they will kill him. There is no clear moral to this story, however there are many links and explanations about the contrast of the world of Forms, and the world of reality, but the main point is this: the path of a philosopher and journey to enlightenment is a long, difficult, painful, and lonely one.