Introduction
Oedipus the King and The allegory at the Cave are great allegories with excellent moral teachings. Oedipus the King is an Athenian tragedy that was written by Sophocles. It tells the story of King Oedipus and his virtuous reign in power over the people of Thebes. The allegory at the Cave was written by Plato and it offers moral lessons on the importance of education. Both stories compare relatively well on several areas and offer timeless moral lessons to societies across social and cultural divides.
Comparisons of the stories
The two stories were told by philosophers who defined morality and upright living in the ancient Greek society. Their lessons on morality and progress in societies have been timeless. The Allegory of the Cave also known as the Parable of the cave was told by Greek philosopher Plato used in his work The Republic in order to illustrate people’s nature in education and the need for education (Rao & Gita, 23). The story is a dialogue between Socrates and his mentee Glaucon who was Plato’s brother. Sophocles was a revered playwright in Athens whose works were a basis of morality in the society. In the Oedipous the King he offers vital lessons on the importance of virtuous and just leadership.
The two stories make use of sight and blindness to deliver lessons on morality. In the Allegory of the Cave Socrates describes a group of people who have lived all their lives chained to the wall of a cave and facing a blank wall. Their heads had also been fixed and they were compelled to watch a wall where shadows of people walking on a raised pathway are cast! As they watch shadows they ascribe forms to those shadows as way to view reality. Sophocles also uses metaphorical blindness and sight to elaborate on the relationship between his past and present. When he was told that Thebians were suffering from a strange plague he said that he could, “not fail to see this” (Sophocles, 68). The use of sight alludes to the state of being virtuous and moral while blindness or inability to view reality means that one is immoral and in need of correction and teaching.
As an allegory Oedipus the King portrays Oedipus as an admirable leader. He is compassionate, just, swift in thought and action and his honesty is quite a lesson in leadership virtues. While delivering a speech to an old priest who had been suffering, Oedipus voices his concern about the health of his people (Heidegger & Ted, 18). He also solves the murder of Laius and ensures that the murderer was punished. As such this allegory teaches leaders vital lessons in leadership.
Sophocles and Plato create stories that show how unfortunate events in human life offer vital lessons on morality. The quest by King Oedipus to find the cure for a plague that had affected Thebans as well as the quest to find the murderers of Laius, brings out his compassion, honesty, transparency and his dedication to improve the lives of his people. Plato’s depiction of prisoners chained to a wall is an unfortunate occurrence whose lessons on the importance of education, openness and freedom cannot be wished away. The two authors managed to clearly elaborate sad tales of human suffering with the ultimate aim of delivering lessons on honesty, openness, justice and patience.
Conclusion
The stories Oedipus the King and The allegory at the Cave written by revered Greek philosophers cum authors; Sophocles and Plato respectively; presents critical moral lessons on virtuous leadership and importance of education respectively. They make use of light and blindness as real issues faced by their characters or as metaphorical allusions. Although the two stories present unfortunate occurrences, the authors managed to deliver lessons on honesty, openness, justice and patience.
Works cited
Heidegger, Martin, and Ted Sadler. The essence of truth: on Plato's cave allegory and Theaetetus. London: Continuum, 2002. Print.
Rao, Sirish, and Gita Wolf. Sophocles' Oedipus the King. Los Angeles, Calif.: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2004. Print.
