Similarities in Platos Allegory of the Cave and A Tale of...

The rigorous and troublesome times of the eighteenth century brought forth much darkness and suffering, but from this oppression came contentment and light. From the opening paragraph, light and dark are contrasted in A Tale of Two Cities, with the use of direct opposites to portray the times. The Allegory of the Cave by Plato also goes along with this theme. It is a symbolic depiction of prisoners held in a cave without a true perception of reality. They are brought up looking at only the shadows of what really exists until finally one is released and travels out of the cave into the radiant world above. The theme of light vs. dark is portrayed as metaphors, as the characters Sydney Carton, and the prisoner in Plato’s Allegory, as well†¦show more content†¦Once he is shown the truth however, and he looks back upon the cave, he sees what a dark unrealistic place it is and will do anything to stay in the light. Comparable to this is the metaphor at the very beginning of A Tale of Two Cities. â€Å"It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness.† (P.1) Sydney Carton’s character represents the theme of light vs. dark because of his transformation throughout the novel. He initially appears as a lazy alcoholic who cares for no man on earth. As the tale continues, Carton’s love for Lucie brings him out of the darkness and changes him into a better, more respectable man. His alcoholism begins to end and â€Å"For the first time in many years, he had no strong drink†¦and last night he had dropped the brandy slowly down on Mr. Lorry’s hearth like a man who had done with it.† (P. 316 Bantam) Carton’s ability to do this marks a key turning point because he used to drink to escape his troubles. Now he is giving it up so he can be closer to the man he would have been, had he not thrown his life away. Parallel to Carton’s change is Plato’s Allegory. The prisoners are chained since childhood and that they cannot move and can only see the wall of the cave in front of them. The shadows they s ee are reality to them so when one leaves the cave. He sees everything in a whole new light. â€Å"He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And