batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l18781-l18911
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg-l18781-l18911
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK IV. / BOOK V. / BOOK VI. / BOOK VII.; lines 18781-18911
start: '18781'
end: '18911'
translation: The Republic
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of
the images.
summary: The passage presents a figurative account of human beings chained in an
underground den, seeing only shadows cast by firelight, and then describes the
painful release, ascent toward the upper world, gradual vision of objects and
heavenly lights, contemplation of the sun, reflection on the former den, and difficulty
of returning to darkness.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Human beings are described as living from childhood in an underground den
with their legs and necks chained so that they can only look forward.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A fire burns above and behind the prisoners, and a raised way and low wall
stand between the fire and the prisoners.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: People pass along the wall carrying vessels, statues, and animal figures made
of wood, stone, and other materials; some speak and others are silent.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The prisoners see only shadows of themselves, one another, and the carried
objects on the opposite wall of the cave.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: An echo from the other side of the prison would lead the prisoners to associate
a passer-by's voice with the passing shadow.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: A released prisoner is compelled to stand, turn, walk, and look toward the
light, suffering pain and distress from the glare.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The released prisoner is imagined as initially judging the former shadows
to be truer than the objects shown to him.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The prisoner is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent until forced
into the presence of the sun.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The prisoner gradually sees shadows, reflections in water, objects, heavenly
lights by night, and finally the sun in its own place.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The sun is described as giving seasons and years, guarding the visible world,
and being in a certain way the cause of what the prisoner and his fellows had
seen.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: The liberated prisoner remembers the old habitation, the den's wisdom, and
his fellow-prisoners, and is said to pity them.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: When imagined returning suddenly from the sun to the old situation, the prisoner
would have eyes full of darkness.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Chained prisoners
description: Human beings in an underground den, chained from childhood so they
can only see before them.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Passers-by carrying objects
description: Men passing along the wall with vessels, statues, and animal figures;
some speak and some are silent.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Released prisoner
description: One prisoner who is liberated, compelled to turn toward the light,
dragged upward, acclimated to the upper world, and imagined returning to the cave.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:13
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Instructor
description: A person imagined as telling the released prisoner that his former
sight was illusion and pointing to the passing objects for him to name.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Fellow-prisoners
description: The remaining prisoners in the den whom the released prisoner remembers
and pities.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Captive observers
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:5
basis: They are chained in the den and limited to seeing shadows before them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: Object carriers and shadow-casters
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: They carry objects behind the prisoners, causing visible shadows and audible
speech associated with shadows.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: Painfully reoriented learner
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The liberated prisoner is forced to turn toward the light, suffers pain,
and gradually learns to see beyond shadows.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:4
label: Guide or instructor
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The imagined instructor explains the former illusion and points out objects
for naming.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: Returnee to darkness
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The same person is imagined returning from sunlight to the old situation
with eyes full of darkness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Underground den or cave
literal_form: An underground den with an opening toward the light.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: Chains
literal_form: Chains on the prisoners' legs and necks preventing movement and head-turning.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: Fire behind the prisoners
literal_form: A blazing fire above and behind the prisoners at a distance.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: Low wall or screen
literal_form: A low wall along the raised way, compared to a marionette screen.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: Carried images
literal_form: Vessels, statues, and figures of animals made of wood, stone, and
various materials.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:6
label: Shadows
literal_form: Shadows of prisoners and carried objects cast on the opposite wall
of the cave.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: Echo
literal_form: An echo coming from the other side of the prison.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:8
label: Steep and rugged ascent
literal_form: An upward path by which the prisoner is dragged toward the sun.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: Water reflections
literal_form: Reflections of men and other objects in water, seen before the objects
themselves.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:10
label: Sun
literal_form: The sun seen in its own proper place and described as source of seasons,
years, and visible-world order.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:11
label: Moon, stars, and heaven
literal_form: The light of the moon, stars, and spangled heaven seen during acclimation
to the upper world.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:12
label: Darkened eyes on return
literal_form: Eyes full of darkness when the released prisoner returns suddenly
from the sun to the old situation.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Chained life in the underground den
summary: Prisoners live from childhood chained in an underground den, unable to
turn their heads, with fire and a wall behind them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Shadows and echoes taken as reality
summary: Passers-by carry objects behind the prisoners; the prisoners see shadows
and may attribute voices and names to the shadows.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Release and painful turning toward light
summary: A prisoner is released, forced to stand, turn, walk, and look toward the
light, experiencing pain, distress, and perplexity.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Ascent to the upper world and vision of the sun
summary: The prisoner is dragged up a steep ascent, gradually learns to see shadows,
reflections, objects, night sky, and finally the sun itself.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
- sym:9
- sym:10
- sym:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:5
label: Reflection on the den and its honours
summary: The liberated prisoner recalls the old habitation and its shadow-based
honors, pities the prisoners, and would prefer suffering to that former way of
life.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: scene:6
label: Return from sunlight to darkness
summary: The liberated prisoner is imagined returning suddenly from sunlight to
the old situation and being darkened in vision.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:10
- sym:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Ascent from underground darkness to light
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: The released prisoner is dragged up a steep and rugged ascent from the den
toward the upper world and the sun.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is explicitly philosophical and figurative, not a narrative
myth in the strict sense.
- id: motif:2
label: Painful initiation into clearer vision
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
- wisdom
basis: The liberated prisoner undergoes compulsion, pain, disorientation, gradual
acclimation, and eventual understanding of the sun's role.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The initiation pattern is inferred from the sequence of reorientation
and learning; the passage does not use ritual terminology.
- id: motif:3
label: Shadow-world contrasted with real objects
taxonomy_refs:
- duality
- wisdom
basis: The den presents a contrast between shadows taken as truth and later-seen
objects and sunlight treated as clearer vision.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The contrast is epistemological in the passage; broader dualistic interpretation
should remain cautious.
- id: motif:4
label: Return of the enlightened figure to former darkness
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: The prisoner who has seen the sun is imagined returning suddenly to the old
situation and being unable to see in the darkness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: Only the beginning of the return episode is included in this excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: Solar source of visible order
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
- wisdom
basis: The sun is described as giving seasons and years and as a cause of the visible
things the prisoners had beheld.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The sun is part of a philosophical image rather than an independent solar
deity narrative.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: 18781-18789
quote_or_summary: Human beings live in an underground den from childhood, with legs
and necks chained so they can only see before them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; concise excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 18789-18795
quote_or_summary: A fire blazes above and behind the prisoners; a raised way and
low wall stand between the fire and prisoners, compared to a marionette screen.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 18798-18803
quote_or_summary: Men pass along the wall carrying vessels, statues, and animal
figures of wood, stone, and other materials; some talk and others remain silent.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 18806-18818
quote_or_summary: The prisoners see only their own shadows, one another's shadows,
and the shadows of the carried objects.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 18820-18833
quote_or_summary: If the prison had an echo, prisoners would think a passer-by's
spoken voice came from the passing shadow; the truth for them would be only shadows
of images.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 18835-18854
quote_or_summary: When a prisoner is liberated and compelled to stand, turn, walk,
and look toward the light, he suffers pain, is distressed by glare, and is perplexed
when shown the objects.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: 18863-18870
quote_or_summary: The prisoner is “reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent”
and forced into the presence of the sun.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short quote.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 18873-18882
quote_or_summary: The prisoner grows accustomed to the upper world, first seeing
shadows, then reflections in water, then objects, then moon, stars, and the night
sky.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 18885-18890
quote_or_summary: Last of all, the prisoner can see the sun itself, not merely its
reflection in water, and contemplate it in its own place.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 18893-18899
quote_or_summary: The prisoner reasons that the sun gives seasons and years, guards
the visible world, and is in a certain way the cause of what he and his fellows
had seen.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 18901-18906
quote_or_summary: Remembering the old habitation, the wisdom of the den, and fellow-prisoners,
the liberated person would felicitate himself and pity them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: 18908-18925
quote_or_summary: The den's prisoners honor those best at observing passing shadows,
sequences, conjunctions, and predicting what will come; the liberated person would
not envy such honors.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: 18931-18935
quote_or_summary: A person coming suddenly from the sun back to the old situation
would have eyes full of darkness.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/republic-jowett.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal elements are explicit in the passage. Motif labels are cautious because
the excerpt is an allegorical philosophical passage rather than a conventional
myth narrative. No comparison claims were generated beyond available motif-family
tagging.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Used only supplied passage text and metadata. Taxonomy references limited to supplied motif families and symbols.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-plato-republic-jowett-gutenberg__l18781-l18911
passage_sha256=5362e764797b16e3475635231865a79703e069c94cbed1c5f2ab313564b278f1