Plato puts much faith in the power of illusion. Plato invokes the art of illusion and
fantasy with the purpose of molding babies into model citizens. Plato does not want
their minds/spirits to be tainted with falsehoods. Plato wants positively to flourish. Plato
believes that fables have the power to mold us. Fables are like an indelible mold that
we are poured in to. Plato believes that at our earliest stages of development, our
minds are too undeveloped to determine the difference between what is true and what
is false within these fables, so they must be watched over by the philosophers of the
Plato believed that the content of these fables had a strong
impact on the values of the individual. Because of this, Plato desired strong control
over the fables that were told by the nurses of the state. He also believed
that finely tuned fables would prevent dissent among the guardians of the state.
The role of stories and myths is to mold the individual, according to Plato.
"..for this then that it is best molded and take the impression that one wishes upon it."
Plato believes that these fables are the first things that children are exposed to. "And
we make us of fables with children before gymnastics." (Pg 69)
Thirdly, Plato believes that "..the beginning in every task is the chief thing, especially
for any creature that is young and tender? " (Pg 69)
He means that the first things that are taught to a child are of the utmost importance.
Plato believes there is something more behind the innocence of a fairy tale. "But
whatever opinions are taken into the mind at that age are wont to prove indelible and
unalterable." (pg 78) He means that these fables will stick throughout the lives of the
Plato also felt that children were not intelligent enough to determine the difference
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