Is Freud’s idea of “Children’s Play” only a psychological term? What was the logic behind Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” ? All these questions can be asked by any person who has read the book Beyond the Pleasure Principle and The republic. In Beyond Pleasure Principle, Freud elaborated different characteristics and stages of human life in psychological language. Plato displayed his philosophical presentation in The Republic by demonstrating the truth of human life.
Freud’s defined various terminologies but among these terms “ Children Play” plays a vital role in human life. He regarded this theory as a subject of pleasure principle which anticipates all the constraints of real life. Besides explaining behavior of older people towards the young children, it also talks about intellectual development of children. It depicts how typical norms of our society are obstructing learning process of children. Freud stated how he observed eighteen months old boy attempting to say fort (“gone”) and da (“there”) by repeating his own invented activity which is disappearance and reappearance of a wooden reel attached to a string. According to Freud’s point of view, the second act gives most pleasure to a child but at the same time he was deprived from pleasure by departure of his mother. Instead of giving a joyful experience of regaining the toy, this activity makes a child to recover the situation that he found unpleasant. Freud considered that this action does not provide a complete satisfaction which a child supposed to get. Therefore, “Children Play” is more structured in the formation of a child’s development.
Both of the writers, Freud and Plato explained the reality of human life. “Children Play” refers to organize children development and “Allegory of the Cave” illustrates the crucial part of human lives. In addition. Both texts are related to happiness. “Allegory of the Cave” resists enlightenment which hinders happiness and “ Children Play” draws an example that how a child achieves happiness through his own performance. These topics are also linked in case of development of society. In “Allegory of the cave” Plato specified about prisoners who were chained in a cave, unable to turn their heads, all they can see is the wall of the cave and behind them fire was burning which forms prisoners as illiterates . Freud portrayed the restricted life of a child where he obeyed orders about not touching various things and not going into certain rooms which interrupts his progress and ability in terms of learning. Obstruction of progress of a child and illiteracy of members of a society hampers social development.
According of my opinion, Plato’s text can be associated with happiness. I think Plato narrated symbolically the dilemma of salvation where prisoners are being deprived of human rights which is regarded as being deprived of happiness. Moreover, Plato detailed the torturous long lives of prisoners from which I can picture an image of an ignorant culture. Another way of earning happiness by being knowledgeable. Further, these prisoners never had any lifetime experiences which made them more ignorant. In other word, happiness is obtained by feelings but prisoners from the allegory of cave cannot express and share feelings with each other. As they were stuck in the cave, they did not have opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature. Natural beauty gives us revived mind and heart in order to gain happiness. However, I can consider that to be a part of society such as having family and friends is the key term of happiness which prisoners did not have. In fact, being productive for own nation brings happiness but prisoner’s lifestyle does not support this notion.
In conclusion, Freud and Plato argued to determine the certain clarification of reality. Even though both of the writers used metaphors in order to identify social problems and solve these problems, they also correlated their issues with happiness.
