Plato's Allegory of the cave was very different from Sartre's No Exit. Though they could both be argued to be a description of hell, Plato focused on the darkness and inability to see much while Sartre focused on the light and how painfully cruel it can be.
The theme of Plato's Allegory of the cave is the fear of what is unknown and what is already known. The theme is knowledge. In No Exit the theme is people paying for their sins. It is hell and torture.
The tone in the allegory was very dark and eerie while the no exit tone is hateful, painful, lustful and aware.
As for characterization in the allegory there was only two characters Socrates and Glaucan. Socrates served as the teacher, the free man, and the guide to leave ignorance while Glaucan was the student like character. In No Exit the four characters seemed to have problems of their own. Ines was very daring, outspoken and quite witty. Estelle on the other hand is quite the attention holder. She is very needy and will do anything to have Garcin sleep with her. Garcin is an uncaring man, he is quite the flirt when it comes to women. He also shows some of his insecurity in the text.
Allegory of the cave takes place in a dark cave where physical torture is actually present.The prisoners shell is not being able to think think like a free man. Of course for them it is not hell for they know nothing more. In No Exit the hell they live in is a room full of light and furniture. Their help does not consists of any physical torture. Their torture is the presence of each other.
NOTES ON NO EXIT AND TEXT QUESTIONS DOWN BELOW
I really liked this post! Everything was clearly stated and direct.You should read and comment on my blog post "Thinking Outside of the Box" and the "No Exit" question post below it! http://lvalenzuelarhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteYou put a lot of thought into the things we read and it really shows in your questions and thoughts on your blog. I think you really understood the two comparisons between Plato and Sactre! good job with your insight!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my post too! http://kcrockettrhsenglit.blogspot.com/