Thinking Outside the Box

Compare how Plato and Sartre describe the limitations of our thinking and imply solutions to the problem.  Be sure to analyze their literary techniques, especially their use of allegory and extended metaphor.
In both "Allegory of the Cave" and "No Exit", Plato and Sartre describe the mental limitations humans have and how our thoughts are restricted. Plato believed that we should break free of our "shackles" and release our thoughts, but on the other hand Sartre had different ideas. He thought that if we keep our thoughts suppressed then we would avoid our own hell. Both of these authors use allegories and extended metaphors to deliver their ideas on how we think.

Self titled "Allegory of the Cave" uses the cave as an allegory. Plato made it clear that the cave was like the lack of knowledge that we as people have because we don't stretch our thoughts and therefore don't get the true reality of life. Plato has characters that are metaphorically "locked" up because they don't actually know what is real and never try to break free for whatever reasons, fear or lack of interest, who knows.

Sartre strongly believed in existentialism, why we exist basically. He thought that humans could could go as far as their mental restrictions go, and no farther because then we would create our own personal hell. The room in "No Exit" was representative of what each character feared and was their "hell".

Revised Big Question

Is it possible for America to avoid decline? Are there lessons that can be learned from past civilizations that can keep America from a massive fall?

Lit Analysis

1. “The Road” is the story of a father and son, never named, on a journey towards the east coast, their last hope. The post-apocalyptic world that they are thrown into is harsh and unforgiving. They are left with limited supplies and a gun with only three bullets. The only other people in the world are savage, cannibalistic freaks so the father and son must always be on the watch. When they finally arrive it is nothing what they imagined. It’s just as destroyed as the rest of the world, and shortly after reaching their destination, the father dies. This leaves the boy with no hope, he sits by his father’s dead body for days until he is found by a man from a nomadic group.

2. The theme is about the struggle of keeping integrity in a world that takes it away and continuing to do good.  Everything around them has become scandalous and willing to do anything to survive. It is never an easy task, but they don’t give in and eat another person, or steal anything. They try remaining honest in the toughest times.

3. Throughout the novel there is a strong sense of hopelessness. The father at times even doubts that they will make it. The entire plot just feels empty and like no good would come for these characters.

4.  “The Road” uses many literary elements and techniques to create the gloomy and hopeless world: syntax, setting, and imagery are just a few.

Big Question

In all of history, there has always been a tribe, an empire, a nation, or a country that rises and becomes dominant, a powerhouse. But all these superpowers have fallen. Even the greatest like the massive Roman Empire. Today America is considered to be that nation. It's the "land of the free and home of the brave". People from all around the world come to the U.S. because it's so great. Will history repeat itself? With the unemployment rate shooting out the roof, the war in the mid east over the last ten years, an unstable economy, a national debt of fifteen trillion dollars, and much more fuel for the flame; is America declining and falling off the top spot? Is it a matter of "if" or "when" that the U.S. loses everything?