Plato defines the environment in this reading as a gloomy cave. People have spent their entire lives trapped in this dark cave, unable to see beyond it. These folks are only aware of what is in this cave; they are unaware of everything else. Plato portrays them as blind and ignorant because they only want to see and know what they want to see and know. Some individuals are uneducated and refuse to learn the truth. People instead choose ignorance, turning a blind eye because they refuse to believe anything outside of their thoughts. Plato instructs us to notice the cave’s darkness and seek truth and understanding. Those who have not yet emerged from the cave are unable to comprehend the light outside.