The allegory of the cave was developed by the philosopher, Plato, to explain reality. In Plato's cave, a group of people are chained up, unable to turn their heads, and are facing a blank wall. Behind them, puppeteers move objects so that they cast shadows onto the blank wall. Unable to see the objects behind them, the prisoners believe that the shadows are real objects which make up the world. By creating this analogy, Plato suggests that people are like these prisoners and are ignorant to the world around them. It is only by breaking free from their shackles can people experience and understand the real world. (Please see the reference links provided).
In Part Two of Fahrenheit 451, Montag references Plato's cave when he is talking to Mildred about the problems of their society:
"I've heard rumours; the world is starving, but we're well-fed. Is it true, the world works hard and we play? Is that why we're hated so much? I've heard the rumours about hate, too, once in a long while, over the years. Do you know why? I don't, that's sure! Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave. They just might stop us from making the same damn insane mistakes!"
Like Plato, Montag is suggesting that the only way to truly understand the world is by breaking free from the cave (represented in Fahrenheit 451 by censorship) and using books to learn the truth. Montag is, therefore, advocating direct rebellion and the beginning of a new and enlightened way of life.
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