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The Theme Of Ignorance In 'By The Waters Of Babylon'

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In Pursuit of Knowledge Ignorance is bliss, which means people that choose not to know live happier not knowing the truths and dangers the world holds. People who have knowledge and know what is going on in the world can choose to fix the problems most of us fear but they always tend to overthink things and live a safer, more reserved life because they know the outcome. Knowledge must be pursued at all costs, even when it is far more convenient to stay ignorant. In the story “By the Waters of Babylon”, the quote “A priest must know many secrets-that was what my father said”(45) relates to how knowledge must be pursued at all costs because the son feels like he needs to have that knowledge. “If I went to the Place of the Gods, I would surely die, but if I did not go, I could never be at peace with my spirit again”(46). This can compare to being ignorant because it is more convenient and safe if he stays home, but he wants to pursue and go to the Place of the Gods even though he knows it is very risky. …show more content…

It explains the troubles adults go through since they are no longer younger and full of ignorance.“We see in them a longing to go back toward the safety of the past and a longing to go forward to the new challenges of the future”(p9). This quote from the article explains how growing adults miss the way everything used to be as kids when they were stress free. “Parents protect their children from knowledge which is too much for them to bear, too confusing for their little minds to process”(p6). This citation sums up why being an adult with burdensome knowledge is stressful and it is also why adults protect kids this way so they can enjoy their blissful, ignorant

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