Capitalism
Capitalism is very obviously one of the main criticized themes in focus throughout the book. The reason Capriano’s business failed was because of it. He uses the extreme as an example to warn what capitalism will cause: Big communities that work as a homogeneous element, without the creativity or ability of modification from the individuals partaking in the community. Saramago tried explaining and showing that this is not a picture of a community far away, as it might develop in any society.
Understanding the world
In Plato’s famous “Republic”, which the name of the book is taken from, the people live as prisoners, only seeing occasional shadow figures on the wall. That became their world and reality, though there is a lot more to it than that. Yet, they could and would not understand the world, because of their position. Their picture of the world became deranged.
Freedom of choice
Saramago also draws forth the further effect of a community without individual variations. Instead of becoming a place of freedom and peace, it becomes a willing tyranny. Then, when the tyranny begins, even from a good source and plan, it always flourishes into a dictatorship where people only are bricks on a table following the rules of a higher power. Therefore, The Cave is a warning to all people to be conscious of what is happening around them and in their society.
