Like in the great philosophical tale of the Allegory of the Cave another animated story of heroes, very similar to the man in the Allegory, but instead of one main character there are two. Both characters Kamina and Simon contain similar traits to the Allegory and the philosophers themselves. Rather than a story, it is an anime show that consist of similar ideals to the Allegory of the cave. In which these heroes, such as the man in the Allegory, venture out from their own cage to find out what is really out there in the world. Struck with curiosity such as the man in the Allegory they find out the truth of the world, but such as the truth be told there are ignorance among them.
In particular, this anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann has the
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same setting and concept as Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”. As the setting is described to be, in a faraway future, mankind lives underground in huge caves, unknowing of a world above with a sky and stars. In the “Allegory of the Cave”, as the title prescribed, there are prisoners in a cave, that just stare straight ahead all day long. But they do get a little entertainment: there is shadow puppets that are projected on the wall in front of them with a fire burning in the back for a light. Since this is all the prisoners can see, they think it's the best, most awesome reality ever. Right off the bat just like the Allegory they start out in cave and do not know the wonders that have yet to be seen on the outside. As the anime goes, “people live day in and day out in the underground village of Giha, never wanting or dreaming of anything higher. Even Simon is perfectly content digging tunnels all day long. This way of life goes unchallenged and no one sees a reason why it should change, no one except Kamina, who has seen the surface and returned to the underground to convince everyone else to leave the village. Yet this is treated as nothing more than a ridiculous claim from an even more ridiculous man. The surface doesn’t exist and Kamina had better stop causing trouble and spouting nonsense” (Ramage 1). Just like the man in the Allegory he believed that there was so much more to be found when he was released. In the Allegory the men said, “Take a man who is released and suddenly compelled to stand up, to turn his neck around, to walk and look up toward the light; and who, moreover, in doing all this in pain because he is dazzled” (194). Just like Kamina there was that one person who is dazzled by the light, but has been through so much pain just to see this light. In the anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, few people believed that the surface is just an illusion in which they want to believe or what they perceive is reality. These two brothers, like the man, were curious of this new world to be seen, but ignorance approaches. In Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, “The village elder won't hear of such foolishness and punishes the Brigade. However, when disaster strikes from the world above and the entire village is in jeopardy, it's up to Simon, Kamina, a girl with a big gun named Yoko, and the small yet sturdy robot, Lagann, to save the day” (MAL 2). Just like in the Allegory the man tries to tell the others of the outside world, but they began to ignore him and continued to watch the shadows on the wall and perceived that the world behind them was dangerous. In the anime instead of being mute, residents of Giha yell and scream and chant that the surface is a dangerous world and should not be explored; only to stay in the cave where they lived all their lives. Just like when the man was released, he manages to break free and begins to figure out what's going on. It takes a while for his eyes to adjust, but gradually, he sees that there is a much brighter speck of light at the end of another tunnel. So out he goes and he saw how amazing and beautiful the real world looks to him compared to that two-dimensional, dark cave he's spent all his life in. He then goes back into the cave to tell his friends but only to ignore the man. As anime goes on, the trio explores the outside, thinking of the people that are still living in the cave, came back telling the residents of Giha village the truth of the outside world, but still refused to come because of their belief that it is a harsh world out there. Similarly to Plato’s Allegory of the cave, character wise, there is a distinct connection between Kamina and Simon that are similar to those of Plato himself.
“In Plato’s cave story, the person who breaks free and sees the surface is the philosopher, maybe Socrates, who is the Gadfly of Athens and may or may not be a fool. He pokes holes in people’s understandings of piety, virtue, justice, and other intangible values, leaving them embarrassed or pissed off. So, this would suggest that Kamina is the philosopher. Kamina is hardly the image of a wise, thoughtful person. If Kamina represents any kind of philosopher, it’s probably a postmodern deconstructive type” (Ramage 1). Just like the Allegory Kamina left the village rather pissed and baffled because they perceived him as a fool, but Kamina was right after all and there is a surface world in which they used to live in. So instead of following Kamina and his new brigade, they all stay sheltered in the ground and eventually try and seal up the ceiling. Kamina nonetheless is determined to find real things. For him, Giha Village is a farce and he is certain that something truer and greater than its false reality exists. Pointing out this episode in particular “In the hot spring episode, Kamina says to Simon, “Let’s go to the moon!” Simon then points to the moon’s reflection in the water and asks if this is what Kamina means, but Kamina emphatically denies that and points up to the actual moon. Not only is this foreshadowing events in Gurren Lagann’s second arc, but it also reveals how serious Kamina is about finding things that are true and real. Like the King Beetle, he’s not satisfied with what things seem like. He wants to see what things are, so he’s not satisfied with going to a mere reflection of the moon” (Ramage 1). Like the philosopher in the Allegory, Kamina wants to see more than a shadow on the wall, he wants to “pierce the heavens” as in
literally. However, “Kamina dies in this journey from what seems to what is, but not before influencing dozens of other people in his way of thinking. He dies without reaching his promised land, but knows that Simon will actually pierce the heavens. If Kamina is that philosopher in the Allegory of the Cave Socrates then Simon is his student Plato. Both Simon and Plato inherit their teachers’ philosophies and carry on their legacy. Though Socrates most likely existed. He’s a bit mythologized, though his views clearly had a profound impact on his students. One can read Plato with the view that he’s simply putting on a Socrates mask to articulate his own views. Similarly, Kamina is mythologized and his legacy is intangible ideals manifested in Team Gurren. Simon spends a great deal of time figuring out who he is without Kamina, yet by the end of the series, he’s certainly wearing a Kamina mask in both his physical appearance and his drive to see the end of the Spiral and Anti-Spiral war” (Ramage 1). Pretty much this describes the teacher and the student of book Plato. When Kamina was still alive, he taught Simon everything because Simon admired his older brother. Simon learns because of the war he goes with his brother and soon learns that he must one day fulfill his shoes. Kamina knowing that he would not make it starts to prepare Simon for when he is gone. In the end, both stories are very similar in context when it comes to the beginning of the anime and the book. Showing that in the anime and in the book, Simon is Plato and Kamina is the philosopher in the book. Dazzled by the light both the philosopher and Kamina go forth and seek out the new world; both of them want more from the world and decide to adventure out and just leave the ignorant fools behind who will not follow him. Although Kamina dies in the end, he adventures and spreads the truth of the world, while preparing his next successor to take his place.
Before going to Alaska, Chris McCandless had failed to communicate with his family while on his journey; I believe this was Chris’s biggest mistake. Chris spent time with people in different parts of the nation while hitchhiking, most of them whom figured out that McCandless kept a part of him “hidden”. In chapter three, it was stated that Chris stayed with a man named Wayne Westerberg in South Dakota. Although Westerberg was not seen too often throughout the story, nevertheless he was an important character. Introducing himself as Alex, McCandless was in Westerberg’s company for quite some time: sometimes for a few days, other times for several weeks. Westerberg first realized the truth about Chris when he discovered his tax papers, which stated that “McCandless’s real name was Chris, not Alex.” Wayne further on claims that it was obvious that “something wasn’t right between him and his family” (Krakauer 18). Further in the book, Westerberg concluded with the fact that Chris had not spoken to his family “for all that time, treating them like dirt” (Krakauer 64). Westerberg concluded with the fact that during the time he spent with Chris, McCandless neither mentioned his
The main character in Behind The Bedroom Wall was Korinna. At first Korinna was a pure anti Jew. She was anti semitic because the people in her youth group brainwashed her to think that Jews caused all the problems in Germany. When Korena found out her parents were hiding Jews, at first she was horrified. But she on grew to love the Jews. This happened because Korinna’s kitten crawled behind the bedroom wall to the Jewish family, the Krugmann's, Korinna didn't like that the kitten was with the Jews so she grabbed the kitten and acted hurtful toward the Jews. Later that day she realized she was wrong and gave back the kitten and said sorry. Another way that Korinna changed is that Korinna now felt sorry for Rachel (the
The play Kamau by Alani Apio exhibits a very strong example of the dramatic difference between the ways that local and non-local people view the value of land. The main character Alika is much attached to the land that his family has lived on for years, as the land that they’ve lived on has become their undeniable home. Alika works for a tour company that takes tourists around the island and gives a brief history of things that have happened on the island. However, Alika’s boss, Jim, is employed at a company that has just bought the land that Alika and his family live on and this company plans to build a resort in place of Alika’s home. The land in question has two very different meanings to two very different people. The struggle and
In the Lilies of the Field by William E. Barrett, Homer and Mother Maria both display straightforward, hardworking, and stubborn character traits. Firstly, Homer and Mother Maria both display a straightforward personality by being brutally honest about their opinions. For example, when Mother Maria asks Homer to build a chapel, Homer speaks his mind by telling her he does not want to build it. Mother Maria shows her straightforward behavior during Homer’s stay at the convent. One morning, when Homer sleeps in late, Mother to becomes extremely upset and is not afraid to show how she feels about him. Secondly, both Homer and Mother Maria display a hardworking spirit. Homer is a hardworking man because after finally agreeing to build the chapel,
In these five paragraphs I will be writing about the book “Hotel on the Corner of Sweet and Bitter” written by Jamie Ford and five quotation that important and made up the theme for me. This book gives a feel a lot of different emotions. The first quote was “‘You are Chinese aren’t you,Henry? That’s fine. Be who you are, she said, turning away, a look of disappointment in her eyes. “But I’m an American’’(p. 60). This quote is important because it shows how Keiko believes even if her parents are Japanese she feels more American then Japanese since she barely spoke Japanese.
In society it is a person’s duty to teach others what they do not know. People do not need to tell others of their knowledge, but in order for society to function together people must all be taught the basics of reality. In the parable “Allegory of the Cave” the author and philosopher, Plato, uses hypothetical situation, rhetorical questions, and diction to tell his audience that a person’s reality depends on the environment they are raised in, and how it is the responsibility of the ones knowledgeable to teach others so society can thrive with most of the same beliefs.
The "Allegory of the Cave" is an attempt by Plato to relate his thoughts and philosophy on human civilization into common terms. He believed that there are two planes of existence: the material world of the senses, and a higher world of thoughts and ideals. Plato's "Allegory" made it possible for people to more firmly grasp a somewhat abstract concept.
For centuries, authors have been writing stories about man's journey of self-discovery. Spanning almost three-thousand years, the Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer's Odyssey, and Dante's Inferno are three stories where a journey of self-discovery is central to the plot. The main characters, Gilgamesh, Telemachus, and Dante, respectively, find themselves making a journey that ultimately changes them for the better. The journeys may not be exactly the same, but they do share a common chain of events. Character deficiencies and external events force these three characters to embark on a journey that may be physical, metaphorical, or both.
The play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry has many interesting characters. In my opinion, the most fascinating character is Ruth because of her many emotions and captivating personality. She goes through extreme emotions in the play such as happiness, sadness, anger, stress, and confusion. Ruth is very independent, firm, kind, witty, and loving.
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave describes ignorance and the process of enlightenment. The cave symbolizes a prison for the mind. Cave dwellers only know of the one reality presented in the cave, yet it is not reality at all. The cave dwellers are ignorant, knowing only one way and not trying to broaden their minds. Plato uses chains and shackles to represent the mental bondage of the cave dwellers. In spite of the bondage, few minds are able to break free of ...
Human beings are fascinated by heroes. Joseph Campbell believes that throughout history heroes have followed a hero’s journey model or monomyth. This means that there are common patterns that can be found in many hero stories. Time after time, people have read about heroes leaving the ordinary world to complete the quest that will change mankind and better the hero. While many tasks and challenges may lie in the hero’s way they always return victorious. The Hero serves a dual purpose. Heroes are smart, brave and resilient. They show the world what is possible through hard work and perseverance. Heroes also reflect the fears and limitations that people are faced with. Heros inspires people to be the best versions of themselves. Chihiro the main character in Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spiri
The Plato’s Allegory of the Cave written by Plato is a dialogue between Plato’s brother Glaucon and Plato’s mentor Socrates. In the story, Plato presents a prisoner chained to the ground within a cave, and is facing a wall with animated puppets, which are the shadows cast by a light source from behind. The prisoner knows that other people are in the cave as well. For the prisoner, this is the reality of the world. Then one day, people come to the cave, and the prisoner is taking out from the cave with his chains removed. When the prisoner returns to the cave to inform the other prisoners of his discovery of the real world, the other prisoners do not believe him and decide to kill him if he tries to set them
In Plato’s “The Allegory Of The Cave” a lot of symbolization of life now with close minded people and back when he wrote the story exists till this day. People who are only taught one thing or don’t have any other vision or don’t expand their mind. For example the people in the story only seeing the cave their whole life have no idea what the world is like.
In movies, novels, and life, people are named as heroes. The heroes we establish and the heroes we recognize, however, may not meet the criteria for a mythic hero. A mythic hero ventures forth on his journey, and comes forth from the hero’s path to greatness. Joseph Campbell, a mythologist who studied many of the great human myths and religious tales, realized, in studying these myths and tales, that there were certain steps that every hero went through. Campbell called this “The Hero’s Journey”; it is based on Carl Jung's idea that all human beings have an archetype. After Campbell studied a lot of the great myths and realized this pattern, he published his findings in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Ever since then, authors have used “The Hero’s Journey” as an outline to tell their stories. “It is important to note that not all of these individual steps are present in every hero’s tale, nor is it important that they be in this exact order” (Vogler 20). The Hero with a Thousand Faces gives a sense of significance as it looks into the inner mind and soul. The author, Joseph Campbell, performs two extraordinary accomplishments: compelling his readers that myth and dream, those are the most effective and everlasting forces in life and a unification of mythology and psychoanalysis with a gripping narrative. One well-known example of “The Hero’s Journey” from popular culture is the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling. In the novel, Harry Potter, the main character, is the chosen one and “The Hero’s Journey” applies to his life from the moment he is attacked by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as a baby.
The Allegory of the Cave is one of Plato’s most enduring and important works. It brings forth the idea that knowledge, amongst all else, will bring enlightenment to all individuals who are willing to except ideas beyond their own opinions. In much of this allegory, modern context can be used in bringing knowledge to the people now as it was used then. It will continue to inspire future generations with its theory of knowledge and intelligence.