What would happen if one of the slaves were to suddenly be set free? What would happen when that person sees how the slaveholders create shadows? What would happen if that person escapes the cave and enters the real world? Well, Plato answers those questions for us. At first, Plato believes that the person would be confused. He would stubbornly reject the fact that his reality is only a fallacy, but as time goes on he would soon learn to see the light, both literally and figuratively. After experiencing the sun, real dogs, and real trees, he would find his way back to the cave with the purpose of trying to enlighten the other slaves. However, our hero’s eyes can no longer function in the darkness. He does not see the same way the other slaves do. Seeing that he is having trouble adjusting to the way they have lived their whole lives, the others think he was harmed by whatever is beyond the cave. They think he’s gone mad. They violently react to his radical ideas and kill him.
Though not having the exact same ending, this story very much mirrors what the protagonists of the Assassin’s Creed franchise faced and would face while uncovering truths. Even though both are fictional and both contain scenarios that escalate far beyond that of everyday life, I find the message to be hauntingly true throughout actual history. Progress has always been halted by stubbornness and ignorance, and often times it seems as if there are people who benefit by keeping the masses stubborn and ignorant. When people break free of those bonds, they face criticism from those still