The "Allegory of the Cave" is a philosophical metaphor presented by the Greek philosopher Plato in his work, "The Republic." It describes prisoners who have been chained inside a dark cave their entire lives, facing a blank wall. They can only see shadows cast by objects behind them, which are illuminated by a fire. These shadows represent their limited perception of reality. One prisoner escapes the cave and discovers the outside world, realizing that the shadows are mere illusions. This journey symbolizes the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment, illustrating how people can be trapped in ignorance and the transformative power of education and understanding.