Final answer:
Metaphorically, "buried alive for 18 years" means a prolonged state of isolation or indoctrination, similar to prisoners in Plato's Allegory of the Cave, which can also appear in literature or reflect historical periods of social upheaval and ideological control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "buried alive for 18 years" can metaphorically describe a situation where someone is isolated from the outside world and submerged in a particular set of beliefs or conditions that are distinct from the wider society. It doesn't signify actual entombment but rather a condition of being kept away from broader social perspectives, much like in Plato's Allegory of the Cave, where prisoners are limited in their understanding of reality due to their confinement. A contemporary interpretation could be likened to a child raised in a commune with a skewed view of the world, eventually discovering the broader truths after leaving.
Examples in Literature and History
- In literature, this concept is explored in tales where characters are confined in ways that keep them disconnected from the outside world, such as being kept in secretive locations or under strict ideologies.
- In history, it could relate to people who have lived through periods of isolation due to political or social upheaval, such as imprisonment during times of war or under oppressive regimes.
- The phrase also touches on the theme of rebirth or awakening, where an individual comes to learn the realities of life after a long period of ignorance or misconception.