Theodore Savage · Chapter
XVIII explained
Theodore, now accepted into the tribe, realizes that the survivors have renounced all scientific and mechanical knowledge, which they call 'devil's knowledge,' as the cause of their destruction.
What happens
Theodore, now accepted into the tribe, realizes that the survivors have renounced all scientific and mechanical knowledge, which they call 'devil's knowledge,' as the cause of their destruction. He learns that ignorance is prized as a virtue and that a prophet has established a religion of ignorance, with a taboo against forbidden knowledge enforced by death. Theodore struggles with the loss of civilization and secretly hopes for its revival, but gradually resigns himself to the narrow limits of tribal life.
Themes in this chapter
Knowledge and Ignorance
The tribe has made ignorance a virtue and a religious doctrine, renouncing all scientific and mechanical knowledge as 'devil's knowledge' that caused the Ruin. Theodore is horrified by this rejection of the heritage of human learning.
Social Regression and Myth-Making
The tribe has regressed to a primitive, superstitious society with a prophet who establishes a religion of ignorance, complete with vows, sacrifices, and a taboo against forbidden knowledge, showing how myth-making arises from trauma.
Characters to notice
- Theodore Savage
Theodore is the protagonist who is now accepted into the tribe but remains a prisoner in spirit. He grapples with the tribe's rejection of knowledge and secretly hopes for the return of civilization.
- Markham
Markham is recalled by Theodore in a memory, standing on the crest of the centuries on the night the crest curled over, symbolizing the collapse of civilization.
Key passages
“In knowledge was death and in ignorance alone was a measure of peace and security; hence, fearing lest he was of those who knew too much, they had tempted him to confess to forbidden knowledge, to boast of it—that, having boasted, they might kill him without mercy, make an end of his wits with his life.”
The tribe believes that knowledge leads to death, so they tested Theodore to see if he would boast of forbidden knowledge, in which case they would kill him.
This encapsulates the tribe's core belief that ignorance is the only path to safety.
“The prophet who had expressed the common need and instinct in terms of religion had in due time made his appearance; a wild-eyed, eloquent scarecrow of a man, aflame with belief in his sacred mission and with loathing for the sins of the world.”
A charismatic prophet arose, preaching a religion that condemned the knowledge that had destroyed the world.
This describes the origin of the tribe's religion of ignorance.