Final!!!!!!!

Through out the books and movies we have read and viewed in class, the concept of truth vs. false reality is a common link. In Plato’s Allegory of a Cave, Plato outlines a group of people chained to a cave floor in such a way that they may only look at the wall. Behind them stands a puppeteer behind a sheet with a flame casting light towards the cave wall. The puppeteer holds up figures and their shadows are cast upon the cave wall that the prisoners are facing. The prisoners, not knowing anything else, see the images of the shadows as the actual creatures and objects they represent. If a prisoner were to leave the cave at first he would feel the pain of his eyes adjusting to the natural light of the sun. Once adjusted, the first objects they will connect with are the shadows. Now enlightened, the prisoner realizes that the reality they knew, the shadows on the cave wall, have all been a lie. Because the enlightened individual knows the truth, the prisoner feels compelled to reveal the truth to the other prisoners.

To apply this idea of truth vs. false truth, lets look at the works we read during the year. In Tennessee William’s Streetcar Named Desire, the main character Blanche creates a false reality for herself and for those whom she meets because of her mental instability. She avoids the truth and makes up her own whenever possible, “I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic. I try to give that to people. I do misrepresent things. I don't tell truths. I tell what ought to be truth.” Though she is aware that all of her actions are false, that is what she wants. She wants the rest of the world to be as she pleases; every aspect of her life is to her choising because she creates her own reality.

Continuing with connections to the Allegory of a Cave, Leonard Shelby from Memento, has a mental condition that prevents him from making new memories. As a result he has a unique and genuine ability to create his own reality. "I'm just someone who wanted to make things right. Can't I just let myself forget what you've told me? Can't I just let myself forget what you've made me do." Lenny can creates his own reality through the notes he leaves himself. Whenever he receives new information that he needs to find his wife's "killer" he makes a little note. On the flip side, whenever he receives information that he doesn't want to remember, such as the the quote above. Because of his condition he won't remember anything he has done that doesn't receive propper notification in the form of tatoos.

In William Shakespere's Twelfth Night Malvolio is the subject of an intense practical joke. He creates his own reality when he recieves the fake love letter from Toby.
Malvolio: "M"- alvolio. "M"-why, that begins my name!
Fabian: Did not I say he would work it out? The cur is excellent at faults
Malvolio:"M." But then there is no consonancy in the sequal that suffers under probation. "A" should follow but "O" does.
The letter is initialed M.O.A.I. which in no way represents Malvolio. His own deciphering of the letter to create a reality to his liking. Though his mindset is as he wishes, he has put himself in a hellish condition that will push him to the point of insanity, all because of a practicle joke.

Oscar Wilde once said "Only the shallow know themselves." Those who are shallow hide their true identity and create a false reality for the rest of the world. When they are alone they may show their true side, yet when in public, they hide behind their false identity. This technique allows people like Blanche to hide from the rest of the world.

So what is reality? Who’s to say that any one reality is the “truth?” The world doesn’t stop moving so we accept whatever reality is placed before us without question. But perhaps we should start questioning. What will come of "truth" and "facts" if everyone creates their own reality?