Introduction
Through the Allegory of the Cave treatise, Plato describes a scene whereby a number of chained men are fixedly staring at a wall. Behind these men is a huge fire which illuminates the wall. Further, some other people – bearing various things – walk between the fire and the chained men. The fire casts shadows of the passing men onto the wall. The prisoners’ world only consists of the shadows since they are unable to see anything else. Likewise, through the A Lesson before Dying novel, Ernest James Gaines describes a scene whereby a man – Jefferson – is confined to a prison cell awaiting execution for alleged murder. This convict is at one time chained just like the men in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave discourse. Further, Grant – Jefferson’s cousin – usually finds the prisoner staring at the ceiling. This situation resembles the one found in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave discourse whereby the prisoners fixedly stare at the wall. The objects of their staring form the prisoners’ worlds. Further, power is evident in the 2 works. Plato’s chained prisoner is made to fixedly stare at a wall by some powerful entity. Similarly, Gaines’ prisoner is incarcerated by the racist White population. The 2 works also feature various Christian symbolisms. Whereas Gaines’ prisoner is a reflection of the Biblical Christ, the release of Plato’s prisoner from the cave signifies Christian salvation. Further, the 2 works explore the significance of justice. Gaines’ work represents a quest by Jefferson to obtain justice from the White -dominated society. Likewise, Plato’s prisoner’s situation indicates that justice – the lack of which makes the captive to remain chained – is indeed important. The 2 works also have various symbolisms. The images in Plato’s treatise represent the working of human minds. Likewise, food indicates friendship and appreciation in Gaines’ novel.
It is however notable that the imprisoned men in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave discourse differ from the prisoner in Gaines’ A Lesson before Dying novel in several ways. To illustrate, while what Jefferson sees are real entities (the ceiling), the men in Plato’s treatise only see representations of reality (images). Moreover, whereas Plato’s prisoner ends up being liberated after gaining knowledge, the acquisition of knowledge brings doom for Gaine’s prisoner. The effects that the foregoing eventualities have on the prisoners’ compatriots also differ. For instance, while Jefferson’s acquisition of knowledge and enlightenment indicates good times for the Louisiana Blacks, the enlightenment of Plato’s prisoner attracts scorn from the inmate’s colleagues. These 2 works thus explore the concepts of the subjectivity and relativity of knowledge. All in all, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave treatise and Gaines’ A Lesson before Dying novel describe prisoners who gain enlightenment with varied results both for the captives as well as for the captives’ colleagues, thus demonstrating the subjectivity and relativity of knowledge.
To illustrate, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave treatise indicates that the prisoners are chained and compelled to stare at a wall on which images of people are projected. These images are the sole prisoners’ subjective worlds. Consequently, the released prisoner holds real life entities as unreal. Their previous world only consisted of images. They cannot thus appreciate real things. The released captive therefore takes time before acclimatizing themselves to entities in the real world. This concept proves that knowledge is both relative and subjective. As such, the prisoner’s world in their bound state is their only subjective reality. This aspect explains their initial refusal to accept the authenticity of entities in the real world (Jacobus 452). The aspect of subjectivity of knowledge – which convinces the prisoner that there is no other world apart from their previous reality – thus comes into play.
Likewise, the issues of subjectivity and relativity of knowledge are explored in Gaines’ A Lesson before Dying novel whereby Jefferson is taken through the gradual process of enlightenment. At first, the prisoner thinks that the world only consists of the Whites torturing the Blacks. In other words, Jefferson is initially of the view that Black suppression under Whites is a timeless phenomenon. This idea explains Jefferson’s mockery of Grant’s efforts at enlightening the prisoner. Consequently, Jefferson derisively makes pig noises so as to fit into the anti-Black stereotype described by the prisoner’s lawyer. With patience, Grant eventually manages to convince Jefferson that the oppression of Blacks can end. As such, Jefferson demonstrates commendable courage that confirms that the yoke of oppression can be removed from the Blacks’ shoulders. Such a disposition challenges the lawyer’s derisive statement that Jefferson – representing all Blacks – is similar to pig. The prisoner thus dies a dignified and courageous man. This scenario proves that knowledge is relative and subjective. To expound, Jefferson’s initial knowledge consisted of the idea that the White’s oppression of Blacks is eternal. Finally, the prisoner learns that he – representing Blacks – can effectively challenges this idea. He thus demonstrates courage and dignity even as he dies. The subjectivity and relativity of knowledge is thus confirmed.
Consequently, Jefferson’s resolve to stand firms against the efforts of the Whites to break his spirit leads to a spiritual emancipation of his colleagues as well as revival for himself. Although the prisoner soon dies on the electric chair, his transformation proves to be very beneficial. It is notable that Grant, who is initially Jefferson’s mentor, eventually becomes inferior to the prisoner in terms of enlightenment. For this reason, Grant has to confess of his deficiencies before Jefferson. In addition, thanks to the prisoner’s transformation, his other relatives, namely, Miss Emma (his mother) as well as Tante Lou (his aunt); gain much hope (Gaines 214). Specifically, the mother is very glad and proud that her son has finally proven the oppressive Whites wrong. Jefferson’s calm disposition before the execution also proves that he has benefited from his enlightenment. The prisoner has beneficially learned that the world he has all long believed in is superficial, oppressive and deceptive. He thus seeks a higher world where he can enjoy human dignity. The author thus manipulates the subjectivity and relativity of knowledge to the benefit of the various members of the Black community.
The ultimate situation in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave treatise is however different from the happy ending of Gaines’ A Lesson before Dying novel in that Plato’s prisoner’s enlightenment does not offer positive outcomes for the captive’s compatriots. To demonstrate, after Plato’s captive ultimately realizes that the world they have all along believed in is made-up and unreal, they disregard all that happened in this world. The prisoner’s newfound enlightenment does not however please their compatriots in the cave. The other still blinded prisoners are angry at the supposed idea that their colleague’s sight has been corrupted. Consequently, the ideologically blinded prisoners resolve never to venture out lest they experience the supposed corruption that their colleague has experienced. In addition, the captives resolve to violently defend themselves against any attempts at making them enlightened. It is thus clear that while the enlightened prisoner is rejoicing, their colleagues are very unhappy about such enlightenment. Here, Plato uses the subjectivity and relativity of knowledge to explore the concept of enlightenment. While the still blinded prisoners hold their knowledge to be superior, their enlightened colleague thinks that they (the enlightened captive) possess advanced knowledge. The subjective minds of the still unenlightened prisoners convince them that they are better-off than their colleague. The subjectivity and relativity of knowledge thus plays out.
Christian imagery plays out in the 2 works. Gaines’ Jefferson signifies Christ; his experiences bring enlightenment to other people. Jefferson’s enlightenment and victorious struggle imparts new vigor onto Miss Emma (his mother) as well as Tante Lou (his aunt). Grant also benefits by being close to the prisoner. Likewise, Plato demonstrates Christian imagery through the chained prisoner’s release. This release alludes to the Christian salvation.
Further, both works depict the use of power. To illustrate, in Gaines’ novel, the Whites use their power to abuse Jefferson by unjustly incarcerating the Black. Likewise, in Plato’s treatise, the prisoners are confined within the cave by an entity that wields power. Such power portrayals indicate tyranny.
Related to the concept of power is the quest for justice that plays out in both works. While Jefferson seeks to emancipate his fellow Blacks who have been historically mistreated by the Whites, Plato’s prisoner aspires to obtain justice from the powers that have incarcerated them. Such depictions prove that justice is indeed very significant.
Moreover, various symbols play out in the 2 works. Plato’s treatise uses the images that are displayed on the wall to refer to humans minds. The images determine the prisoners’ understanding just like the human mind determines one’s intellect. Likewise, food is used to indicate friendship and appreciation in Gaines’ novel. For example, Grant brings Jefferson some food to indicate the former’s love. Further, to show his displeasure with his family, Jefferson refuses the food that Miss Emma offers.
Conclusion
In summary, Gaines’ A Lesson before Dying novel and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave explore the concepts of the subjectivity and relativity of knowledge through their respective prisoners’ experiences. The similarities between the 2 works are that the prisoners are initially bound and made to make contact with limited reality. Further, the prisoners are exposed to a different world whereby their earlier views of realities’ are challenged and subsequently changed. The 2 works are however different with regard to the outcomes of the prisoners’ experiences. While Allegory of the Cave treatise ends with the prisoner being enlightened, thus displeasing their colleagues, in Gaines’ A Lesson before Dying novel, the prisoner’s enlightenment pleases the captive’s compatriots. These differing viewpoints show that knowledge is relative and highly subjective.
Works Cited
Gaines, Ernest James. A Lesson before Dying. New York: Vintage Books, 1997. Print.
Jacobus, Lee. A World of Ideas. New York, USA: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2005. Print.