Alcoholism In Socrates The Allegory Of The Cave

In Book 7, of ”The Republic,” Socrates paints a picture of “The Allegory of the Cave.” In that story, he tells the story about how three people are imprisoned in a cave, without any idea of what true reality is, chained to a wall, forced to watch images pass by on the wall, made by the fire and people walking past. He talks about how when one of the prisoners chains fall off, he leaves the cave, and learns the actual truth of reality, but then ends up returning to the cave, living his life over again. In this essay, I compared the “Allegory of the Cave,” to Alcoholism. Comparing the cave to alcoholism, the Cave and chains are the alcohol, and they bind the alcoholic. When the alcoholic becomes free, the alcoholic sees reality and realizes that the cave is not the best choice or lifestyle

Just as in “The Allegory of the Cave,” the prisoner eventually goes back to the cave, after being freed. Alcohol has little to do with what kind of alcohol one consumes, or the amount that they take in, but it has a great deal to do with the person’s desire and need for it. Related to “The Allegory of the Cave,” the prisoner has lived his whole life in the cave and knows nothing else. He is always drawn back to the cave even after being released. Alcoholics can not say, that they are going to quit easily. They have to fight against themselves. While some people can quit, most people need help from a specialized therapist or doctor. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, evidence shows that roughly 90% of people with alcoholism relapse within 4 years after completing treatment. Alcohol is always the answer to their problems. Referring back to “The Allegory of the Cave,” the cave is always the answer for the prisoner. He is set free, but eventually relapses, and enters the cave again. Their relationships and loved ones are once again hurt, when they return back into the cave of