There had been something willed about it though, his ignorance. Or not willed, exactly: structured. He'd grown up in walled spaces, and then he had become one. He had shut things out.
The character's ignorance appears to be a conscious choice, rooted in his upbringing within confined environments. This upbringing has not only shaped his worldview but has also led him to become a closed-off individual, mirroring the limitations he experienced as a child. This development signifies an internalization of barriers, resulting in a life that rejects broader perspectives.
By shutting out the outside world, he constructs a mental fortress that isolates him from both knowledge and emotional connections. His deliberate avoidance of external influences illustrates a fear of vulnerability, indicating how his experiences have shaped his desire to maintain control and security in his life.
