Read the passage from "Allegory of the Cave."
Socrates: And now, let me show in a figure how far our
nature is enlightened or unenlightened: - Behold!
human beings living in a underground den, which has a
mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the
den; here they have been from their childhood, and
have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot
move, and can only see before them, being prevented
by the chains from turning round their heads. Above
and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and
between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised
way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along
the way, like the screen which marionette players have
in front of them, over which they show the puppets.
What is the purpose of describing human beings as
living in an underground den?
to show that many people live their lives in terrible
physical conditions
to use imagery to suggest that people are trapped
by their perceptions and prevented from
understanding reality
O to show that people depend on others like the
players to describe reality
O to use imagery to show that people must change
their governments to escape their misunderstanding
of reality
