I would like to be without shame. I would like to be shameless. I would like to be ignorant. Then I would not know how ignorant I was.
The quote from Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" reflects a profound desire for freedom from self-awareness and societal judgment. The speaker expresses a wish to be unburdened by shame and the constraints that come with knowledge, suggesting that ignorance could provide a form of liberation. This longing points to a struggle with the weight of understanding and the expectations imposed by society.
This desire for ignorance highlights the emotional toll of living in a world where one is constantly aware of their flaws and societal norms. The speaker's wish to be shameless suggests a yearning for authenticity and a rejection of the shame that often accompanies self-awareness. Atwood’s work invites readers to contemplate the complexities of identity, knowledge, and societal expectations.
