This story is about socrates narrating to Glaucon about human beings residing in a cave since childhood, where there legs and necks are chained,thus preventing them from turning there heads. In the cave there is a fire above and between them. These prisoners are carrying various materials. Glaucan said these prisoners are pecular. Socrates said similiar to us and they could only view there shadow. If these prisoners could have spoken they would have named what they saw and if they heard and echo they would have related it to the passing shadow.Glaucon agreed.
Socrates said if they were release and exposed to the light the glare will pain their eyes. As his eyes becomes accostome to the light he will see his former reality as an illusion. He will begin to percieve everything clearer and argue that he is reponsible for the season and he is the guardian of all things.Glaucon agreed. Socrates said he will have sympathy for his fellowmen in the cave and will not want to be in there position but rather a poor servant of a poor master.
If he was to retreat in his old habitat and compete in a contest about measuring the passing shadow he will be irritated. His fellowmen would say "up he went and down he came,now he has lost his vision". And they will not consider ascending out of the cave. Glaucon agreed.
Socrates said that the prison is the world of sight and the fire is the sun. Do not misunderstand the upward journey as ascending into an interllectual world according to his conviction,whether right or wong. However the interllectual world is only seen with an effort. It is a beautiful place were he will rationally fixed his eyes on,whether publicly or privately. Gluacon agreed
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