Life In A Dark Place Millhauser

Life In A Dark Place To be alone in a dark place no communication and yearning for the touch of someone. This is the life that Kasper Hauser lived for many years. At current times this would be considered Reactive Attachment Disorder. This happens when children are left to themselves basic needs for comfort, affection and nurturing aren’t meet. Also imagine a child who is able to overcome these things. Learning to speak and understand the world around him. Millhauser is trying to convey the thought “don’t judge a book by its cover”. People judging is something that is seen every day. When a homeless person is seen on the streets people turn their noses up, but have you ever thought about the path that got them there. Many people that are in

Kaspar Hauser is someone who has gained knowledge and informs his audience about what he has learned, however Kaspar is not enlightened. Plato states in his Allegory “how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: - Behold human beings living in an underground den” (pg.867).
Kaspar lives almost alienated from society. He had an awkwardness with his body, not holding his arms in a natural manner with them hanging at his side. Millhauser describes him as a "creature jabbering unintelligibly-stumbling-weeping-blinded by daylight"(pg.126). Plato's Allegory has been used many times in comparision to Kaspar Hausers story. In Plato's Allegory he describes the men in the den as "[having] been there since childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so they cannot move"(pg.867). This is a physical way of confinement but also mental confinement. You can sense Kaspar and the men in the cave have been neglected and not had the opportunity to grow and flourish. During Kaspar's time in the dungeon Kaspar learned the meaning of discontent and become disillusioned with society. Millhauser is giving you the story of many people today in society. The years have changed but people as a whole still carry on the same way

Kaspar has learned to read, write and speak in a short amount of time. He has also learned what everyday objects are and how to tell stories. Kaspar states “Please understand that if I mention such things, it isn’t in order to evoke your sympathy, least of all your pity…” (pg.128). In essence it appears that is exactly what he is trying to do, he has reverted back to childlike behavior exhibiting his lack of enlightenment. Hence the message of Millhauser, regardless of Kaspar’s reasoning it is not for society to judge. As the late, great Tupac Shakur said “only God can judge