The Protective Shell
Imagine a bird’s nest sitting upon the smallest branch of a very large tree. In this nest are a dozen of eggs that each hold a bird looking human. These creatures have been trapped in these shells for years, never having seen the real world. All they knew were mere outlines of their fellow oviparous friends. Even their voices weren't true, for the shells muffled them. One day the creatures heard a loud and clear voice that they didn’t recognize. The voice insisted they left their shelters to discover a whole different world. Many refused to make the slightest crack in their shell. Others poked a small hole, but immediately stopped when they saw a blinding light. The bright sun was painful to their eyes that had always been used to darkness. Only a few were brave enough to completely break free. They were too far up to see the ground. However just the colors of the sky and the clouds were enough to amaze them, and left them wanting more. Once again the voice spoke, wanting them to jump off the high branch. Even though they didn’t know what was waiting for them down below, they knew it would hurt to fall from such a distance. The voice assured them that they wouldn’t be harmed and that their wings would naturally keep them in the air, but fear took over and only one man was brave enough to continue the journey. This man was very curious and found life inside the egg boring, so he pushed back his fears and jumped. At first he thought he would die, but his instincts rapidly kicked in and he began to fly. For the first time the man saw trees, the ground, water, etc. His newly found world was amazing, and he wanted to share his discoveries with his friends, but he could no longer see them and he didn’t know which tree he had fallen from. He then decided to shout, letting them know that it was safe, but no one believed him. His voice sounded strange, it was no longer muffled and it now had an echo. The change in the man, scared the others and for that reason they never left their small nest.
Being enlightened is learning the truth. However, learning the truth can sometimes be difficult and painful. The men and women in the allegory above, were unaware of the true world. They were living a lie, and to discover the truth they needed to break free and jump. However, this was a difficult task. They had lived in darkness and for that reason the sun hurt their eyes. Even after their eyes adjust, they had to keep going. Before learning the truth they still needed to jump. After all this only one man succeeded. The only man to succeed represents philosophers, he wanted the truth. He wanted an explanation and reasoning for his life. Most of the other creatures also desired the truth, but they weren’t willing to do the work and go through the pain to achieve it.
Similarly to The Allegory of the Cave, both stories talk about men and women who are kept from the truth. The chains and the shell represent the lies, as the sun and the fire are the truth. Unlike Plato’s allegory, the creatures in the eggs were capable of breaking free, but were too scared to try. In the caves allegory, the people are chained up so they couldn’t escape. I find it important that the characters are able to escape, since it shows that you must decide to find the truth, you must work for it and persevere through the pain.
Imagine a bird’s nest sitting upon the smallest branch of a very large tree. In this nest are a dozen of eggs that each hold a bird looking human. These creatures have been trapped in these shells for years, never having seen the real world. All they knew were mere outlines of their fellow oviparous friends. Even their voices weren't true, for the shells muffled them. One day the creatures heard a loud and clear voice that they didn’t recognize. The voice insisted they left their shelters to discover a whole different world. Many refused to make the slightest crack in their shell. Others poked a small hole, but immediately stopped when they saw a blinding light. The bright sun was painful to their eyes that had always been used to darkness. Only a few were brave enough to completely break free. They were too far up to see the ground. However just the colors of the sky and the clouds were enough to amaze them, and left them wanting more. Once again the voice spoke, wanting them to jump off the high branch. Even though they didn’t know what was waiting for them down below, they knew it would hurt to fall from such a distance. The voice assured them that they wouldn’t be harmed and that their wings would naturally keep them in the air, but fear took over and only one man was brave enough to continue the journey. This man was very curious and found life inside the egg boring, so he pushed back his fears and jumped. At first he thought he would die, but his instincts rapidly kicked in and he began to fly. For the first time the man saw trees, the ground, water, etc. His newly found world was amazing, and he wanted to share his discoveries with his friends, but he could no longer see them and he didn’t know which tree he had fallen from. He then decided to shout, letting them know that it was safe, but no one believed him. His voice sounded strange, it was no longer muffled and it now had an echo. The change in the man, scared the others and for that reason they never left their small nest.
Being enlightened is learning the truth. However, learning the truth can sometimes be difficult and painful. The men and women in the allegory above, were unaware of the true world. They were living a lie, and to discover the truth they needed to break free and jump. However, this was a difficult task. They had lived in darkness and for that reason the sun hurt their eyes. Even after their eyes adjust, they had to keep going. Before learning the truth they still needed to jump. After all this only one man succeeded. The only man to succeed represents philosophers, he wanted the truth. He wanted an explanation and reasoning for his life. Most of the other creatures also desired the truth, but they weren’t willing to do the work and go through the pain to achieve it.
Similarly to The Allegory of the Cave, both stories talk about men and women who are kept from the truth. The chains and the shell represent the lies, as the sun and the fire are the truth. Unlike Plato’s allegory, the creatures in the eggs were capable of breaking free, but were too scared to try. In the caves allegory, the people are chained up so they couldn’t escape. I find it important that the characters are able to escape, since it shows that you must decide to find the truth, you must work for it and persevere through the pain.