The Path & Cave

It takes a long time for Phil to make the full transaction. The most obvious observation of this path, is how long, and time consuming it can be. Even when Phil knows what will happen on that one day it still takes him quite a few tries before he really gets it right (and only after he starts paying attention of other people around him). I feel that his path to enlightenment is a lot shorter in the movie, than it would be in reality. Part of what speeds up the process is the knowledge he has of the day. Whereas for most people, we have to get things right the first time since there is no chance for people to try again. The path of enlightenment is really similar to Plato’s cave and a lot can be used when looking at the two analogies.

Taking a step back, the path of enlightenment is filled with little dead ends, or smaller caves that trap people until they realize they are going in the wrong direction, and head by over to the correct path. When Phil first finds out that he is living the same day over and over again; at first he is in denial, that the day is happening again. That seems to be the point where he starts to realize that he is stuck in a cave. After thinking that he knows, he starts acting reckless before realizing that it is not what he really wants to do, then starts to work on his relationships with women. When he tries a few different approaches (with varying results) he seems to realize that it is not what he really wants, and changes his actions the next day. The reckless actions and his attempts to work on relationships are the side caves and dead ends people encounter when working to the path of enlightenment.

By the end of the movie, when he works on improving himself, and taking note of the needs of others on that day, he reaches the end of the path. Working to improve himself as a person is like reaching the mouth of the cave, and observing the world in a new perspective. Using the knowledge he has on the happenings of the day, Phil goes around town to help people, and that is the final and ultimate step when on the path of enlightenment.