whether they knew of didn't know is not the main issue; the main issue is whether a man is innocent because he didn't know. {...} by beating himself on the chest and proclaiming, My conscience is clear! I did not know! I was a believer! Isn't his I did not know I was a believer! at the very root of his irreparable guilt?
The essence of the quote highlights the idea that ignorance does not absolve one of guilt. The protagonist's declaration of innocence rests on his lack of knowledge, which raises deeper moral questions about responsibility and awareness. Simply claiming innocence by stating "I did not know" does not erase the underlying actions or choices that may have led to harm or wrongdoing.
Kundera suggests that an individual's belief and the insistence on...
