2. What is an allegory? *A story or visual image with tangible, but unrealistic characters (sometimes animals) that conveys an abstract idea about the human existence. There is a symbolic meaning beyond the literal meaning.

3. Plato’s “Cave” “Behold! human beings living in an 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.”

4. Speaker 1: To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images. Speaker 2: That is certain. *What is reality/truth to the prisoner in the cave?

5. The Matrix Neo – prisoner in the matrix Morpheus – “The Freed Man”

6. The Oracle The Agent (Machine) The Prophecy...

7. The Cave = The Matrix Neo = The Prisoner The Agent = Puppet-handler *How does the Matrix apply to the Cave?

8. Questions to Consider 1.What is the cave, even as it applies today? 2.What truth is there to Neo saying, “I can’t go back, can I?” Morpheus: “You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged [forced out of the matrix-- the cave]. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it." 3. Can you think of any other “Freed Men” who have existed throughout history?