I walk away from her, guilt on my hands, absolving myself: I'm a good person. She could have been dying. No one else stopped.I'm a fool, to confuse this with goodness. I am not good.I know too much to be good. I know myself.I know myself to be vengeful, greedy, secretive and sly
In Margaret Atwood's "Cat's Eye," the protagonist grapples with feelings of guilt after leaving a woman in need. Despite her attempts to convince herself of her own morality, she acknowledges the darker aspects of her character. The moment reveals the complex nature of human behavior, where the desire to feel good often clashes with personal truth.
As she reflects on her actions, she confronts the idea that true goodness is intertwined with self-awareness. The character recognizes her flaws—vengefulness, greed, and slyness—highlighting the struggle between self-perception and reality. This internal conflict challenges the notion of being a "good person" in a nuanced and relatable manner.
