Poetry · Chapter
LXXI explained
A brief dialogue between Ignorance and Knowledge, where Knowledge offers to accompany Ignorance to fortify a maiden's mind against peril, but Ignorance accuses Knowledge of being the peril itself.
What happens
A brief dialogue between Ignorance and Knowledge, where Knowledge offers to accompany Ignorance to fortify a maiden's mind against peril, but Ignorance accuses Knowledge of being the peril itself.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Self-Deception
Knowledge is revealed as the true peril, suggesting that what appears helpful may be deceptive.
Key passages
“Where goest thou, Ignorance? To fortify the mind of a maiden against a peril. I am going thy way. My name is Knowledge. Scoundrel! Thou art the peril.”
Ignorance says it is going to protect a maiden from danger. Knowledge offers to join, but Ignorance calls Knowledge the real danger.
This exchange highlights the ironic reversal where knowledge itself is seen as a threat.