The Cave, the Crisis, and the Choice: Philosophy, Freedom & Million Dollar Baby”
“The Metaphor of Plato’s Cave and Existential Philosophy in Million Dollar Baby”
✨ BESTIE MOMENT ALERT ✨
I poured my soul into this midterm.
The result?
“Best essay in the class.”
I’m still screaming, crying, blooming. 😭🌹🪽
This paper isn’t just a grade—it’s a mirror. A metaphor. A moment.
Below is the full essay I submitted for my Philosophy midterm: a deep-dive reflection on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, existentialism, and the film Million Dollar Baby.
I hope you read it not just as a student’s submission—but as a spiritual meditation on truth, suffering, and the fire it takes to break free from your own cave.
🌿 View the Midterm Revolution in action…
The Metaphor of Plato’s Cave and Existential Philosophy in Million Dollar Baby (2004)
In approaching this midterm paper, I found myself immersed in deep thought about the philosophical themes discussed in the readings and how they intersect with the modern world. The combination of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, existential philosophy, and the narrative of Million Dollar Baby (2004) led me to a reflection on personal growth, the human condition, and the search for authenticity. Throughout my writing process, I’ve found the philosophical concepts compelling and enlightening, but they also left me with lingering questions about my own life and the choices I make.
The existential philosophy that informs Plato’s allegory reveals the difficulty of breaking free from our own limited perspectives. In Million Dollar Baby, we witness a protagonist, Maggie Fitzgerald, who attempts to define herself and carve out a sense of meaning and authenticity in a world that presents her with constant struggles. As I watched Maggie’s journey unfold, I could not help but see her battle as a reflection of the philosophical tensions between freedom and fate, and the search for meaning in a world that seems indifferent to individual efforts.
This paper will explore the intersection of Million Dollar Baby and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, focusing on the central existential themes of freedom, identity, and the confrontation with painful truths. In the process, I will share my insights about how the metaphor of the cave applies to modern struggles of self-awareness, authenticity, and the nature of choice.
To begin this reflection, I must revisit Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which is central to the existential discussion on human understanding and freedom. In the Allegory of the Cave, Plato describes prisoners who have been chained inside a dark cave for their entire lives. They can see only the shadows of objects projected onto the wall in front of them. These shadows, manipulated by figures behind them, represent the prisoners’ entire reality. They believe that these shadows are all there is to the world, as they have no concept of what lies beyond the confines of the cave.
The allegory portrays a journey of enlightenment. One prisoner, after being freed from his chains, is taken outside the cave and exposed to the light of the sun. Initially, the light blinds him, and he is uncomfortable with the new truth. The process of enlightenment is not easy or instantaneous; it requires a shift in perception that can be painful and disorienting. Yet, the freed prisoner, upon adjusting to the truth, comes to understand the real world outside the cave.
Plato’s allegory asks a profound question: How often are we prisoners of our own limited understanding of the world? Are we trapped by our own perceptions, shaped by external influences and our own fears? For me, this allegory highlighted the limitations we all face when trying to see beyond the surface of our daily experiences. Whether it’s societal expectations, personal insecurities, or an unwillingness to confront the uncomfortable truths about ourselves, we all have "caves" in our lives.
The journey of enlightenment in the allegory resonates with existentialist philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Søren Kierkegaard, who argue that the search for authenticity requires a willingness to confront our fears and challenge the realities imposed on us by society. Just as the freed prisoner must adjust to the painful truth outside the cave, we too must confront the discomfort of living authentically, beyond the illusions of our daily existence.
As I watched Million Dollar Baby, I could not help but see the film as a contemporary representation of the Allegory of the Cave. Maggie Fitzgerald, portrayed by Hilary Swank, is a woman caught between her past and the desire to create a new identity for herself. Born into poverty and raised in an abusive household, Maggie is initially trapped by the circumstances of her birth. However, much like the freed prisoner in Plato’s cave, Maggie seeks a way out. Boxing becomes her means of escaping the life she knows, and it symbolizes her quest for personal autonomy and self-authenticity.
In the beginning, Maggie’s aspiration to become a boxer is met with resistance and dismissal. She is seen as too old, too inexperienced, and too fragile to succeed in the male-dominated world of boxing. Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood), the boxing trainer who ultimately agrees to take her under his wing, initially hesitates. He is reluctant to train her, fearing that he might be setting her up for failure. This hesitation mirrors the reluctance of the freed prisoner to accept the harsh light of reality after being released from the cave. For Maggie, this is the first step in her existential journey—a desire to escape the confines of her past and embrace a new identity.
As the film progresses, Maggie begins to succeed in boxing, overcoming obstacles that others believe are insurmountable. Her success in the ring reflects her ability to break free from the limitations imposed on her by society and her circumstances. Maggie's quest for boxing greatness parallels the existential idea of self-creation and self-definition. Existentialists like Sartre argue that we are condemned to be free—that is, we are free to choose our identity and our purpose, but this freedom comes with great responsibility. Maggie's desire to become a boxer is not just about winning fights; it is about defining herself in a world that sees her as nothing more than a poor, uneducated woman with no future. She fights for her own agency, to break out of the shadows that have defined her life for so long.
Her journey is also one of resilience. Despite the immense odds stacked against her, Maggie persists, and she slowly earns the respect of those around her. The existential struggle she faces—the desire to prove herself and to rise above the limitations of her birth and circumstances—is relatable. It reminded me of the times in my own life when I’ve been motivated to rise above expectations or societal pressures to be someone I am not. Maggie’s courage, determination, and unwavering focus on her goal serve as a reflection of the universal human struggle to define oneself in a world that often seems indifferent.
The pivotal moment in Million Dollar Baby occurs when Maggie sustains a catastrophic injury during a match, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. This moment is devastating not just for Maggie, but also for the audience. Throughout the film, we see Maggie pushing against the limitations imposed by her circumstances, fighting not just for victory in the ring, but for a sense of self-worth and freedom. When she is left paralyzed, she is forced to confront a painful truth about the fragility of life.
This moment of crisis connects deeply with the existential notion that life is unpredictable and often unfair. Maggie, like the freed prisoner in Plato’s allegory, is confronted with a truth that is difficult to accept. In this moment, her physical limitations force her to confront the existential reality that life is fragile, and the pursuit of freedom and authenticity comes at a great cost.
As she grapples with her new reality, Maggie faces an existential dilemma: What does it mean to live authentically when the freedom she once fought for has been stripped away? This question resonates with existential thinkers like Albert Camus, who emphasized the absurdity of life and the necessity of confronting it head-on. Maggie’s injury, and her subsequent decision to end her life on her own terms, is an expression of her desire to maintain control over her destiny, even when faced with a life of suffering. For Maggie, choosing euthanasia is an act of ultimate freedom—a decision to die on her own terms rather than live a life she no longer considers worth living.
While Maggie’s decision may be controversial, it is, in many ways, the embodiment of Sartre’s existential philosophy. In existentialism, freedom is not just about the ability to make choices; it is about taking responsibility for those choices, even when they lead to difficult outcomes. Maggie’s decision to end her life reflects her acceptance of her own agency in a world that has taken away the freedom she once had. It also represents an affirmation of her right to define her own existence, even in the face of suffering.
The existential tension between fate and free will is central to both Plato’s Cave and the narrative of Million Dollar Baby. In the Cave allegory, the freed prisoner’s struggle is not just about breaking free from the shadows, but also about confronting the harsh truths about the world outside the cave. Similarly, Maggie’s struggle is not just about becoming a boxer, but also about confronting the unpredictable nature of life and the limits of human control.
Maggie’s injury is a moment that sharply illustrates the tension between fate and free will. Despite all her efforts to break free from her past, she is confronted with an event that is beyond her control. This, to me, reflects the existentialist view that while we may have the power to make choices, we cannot escape the uncertainties and limitations of life. Just as the freed prisoner must come to terms with the knowledge that his previous understanding of reality was limited, Maggie must confront the painful truth that even her best efforts cannot guarantee her success or control over her fate.
At the same time, Maggie’s decision to end her life represents an assertion of freedom and autonomy. Even in the face of suffering, Maggie chooses how to respond. This act of freedom is a poignant reminder that, according to existentialism, we are responsible for defining our lives, even in the face of absurdity and despair. Maggie’s choice underscores the existential belief that we can find meaning in life through our choices—particularly the choices that define our essence in moments of crisis.
As I reflected on Maggie’s journey and the themes of existential philosophy, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to my own life. I’ve often found myself trapped in “caves” of my own making—whether it’s limiting beliefs, societal expectations, or fear of failure. Like Maggie, I’ve encountered moments in which I had to choose whether to remain in the comfort of my shadows or step out into the unknown and risk failure, vulnerability, and discomfort.
The idea of choosing freedom in the face of suffering is something that resonates with me deeply. There are times when life presents circumstances beyond our control, and we are forced to confront painful truths. It is easy to feel defeated in such moments, but like Maggie, I have learned that it is in these moments of crisis that we have the power to make choices that define us. The existential idea that we are free to create meaning in a world that often seems indifferent is both empowering and daunting. It reminds me that even in our darkest moments, we have the ability to choose how we respond.
This reflection on Maggie’s journey reminds me of the necessity to continually break free from the metaphorical "caves" that trap us in limiting perceptions. Whether it's embracing new opportunities, confronting difficult truths, or making tough decisions, each moment presents a chance to redefine who we are. Maggie’s ultimate choice, although tragic, offers a profound lesson in the value of authenticity—living on your terms, regardless of the hand life deals you.
In conclusion, Million Dollar Baby offers a modern retelling of the philosophical themes explored in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. Maggie’s journey reflects the existential struggle for authenticity, freedom, and self-definition in the face of suffering and fate. As I reflected on these ideas, I realized how deeply they resonate with the human condition. We are all, in some sense, trapped in caves of our own making, whether it’s through fear, ignorance, or societal expectations. Yet, like Maggie, we have the power to choose how we define ourselves, even in the most difficult of circumstances. The process of breaking free from the cave is not easy, but it is necessary if we are to live authentically and create meaning in a world that often seems indifferent.
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We are all just trying to bloom beyond our shadows.
May this essay help you break your own chains.
In petals, purpose, and Platonic awakenings—
Isa’Rose 🌹🗝
