As noted in the Republic, prisoners only see shadows that are cast on the wall by people. The prisoners according to Plato are removed from the truth and would object if the truth was shown to them. And the prisoners were forced to look at the fire it would hurt their eyes, and would probably prefer looking at the images casted on the wall by the people. So the prisoners would want their dark prison rather than turning their heads towards the light. And if they were forced out of the cave it would be even more painful looking directly at the sun. But once outside their eyes would get use to the light. The cave symbolises perception but not the truth or reality. In reference to the analogy of the sun, Plato discusses the difference between