Ignorance In Greasy Lake By T. Coraghessan Boyle

A common trait to young adults is ignorance. They all think that they have complete control of the world and have a full understanding of what is going on. The literary works “Greasy Lake” by T. Coraghessan Boyle, “To the Virgins, to Make Much Time” by Robert Herrick, and Antigone by Sophocles all share the same theme of the dangers of ignorance. Each story can be broken into different parts of this theme, whether it be uninformed about the dangers of life, how the world works, or the bliss of being young and stupid. Ignorance is dangerous because it leaves the possibility of harm not only onto the people and places directly involved, but other people and situations that may have no connection to the original problem.
The first major

facet of this theme is the idea that ignorance is bliss. This is shown in the end of Herrick’s poem when he says, “then be not coy, but use your time; // and while ye may, go marry; // for having lost but once your prime, // you may forever tarry” (Herrick 207). This is advice given to a younger audience to enjoy what one has because no one knows what will happen in the future and also to be grateful for that ignorance. Another example of this is in Boyle’s “Greasy Lake”. The narrator talks about the nature of the lake, and how it had a “rich scent of possibility on the breeze” (Boyle 49). This shows us that ignorance can often breed well in a place for kids to gather and spend time with no rules and regulations. As an adult, one could fully predict the dangers that happen here, the drug use, the fighting, and the alcohol consumption; all these breed the possibility of something bad happening. But, as a young adult, or teenager, this is fun. Nobody is going to get hurt, they are just having fun. This is very dangerous, because it brings about conditions where anything can happen and nothing can be controlled. The possibility of multiple lives being destroyed (as hinted towards the end of the story) is huge and it’s impossible to prevent such situations because there is no control. Having ignorance is blissful, because there is no real worry, but it creates a dangerous situation because there is also no fear as to what can happen.
The next part to this theme is that these young characters don’t fully comprehend the dangers and consequences of their actions.

For example, in “Greasy Lake” by Boyle, we find our young narrator hiding in the lake. Upon the discovery of the dead body our narrator says, “I understood what it was that bobbed there so inadmissibly in the dark. Understood, and stumbled back in horror and revulsion, my mind yanked in six different directions… thinking” (Boyle 52). It’s in this moment that he realizes where this path in life could take him, and what it could mean for his future and happiness. We see this affects him because of his change towards the end, turning down a chance to party for the safety of his home. Another example is in Antigone when she chooses to disobey the law and bury her brother. When confronting Creon she says “Our wills conflict head-on. No chance of reconciliation. I can’t think of a finer reason for dying, - guilty of having buried my own brother” (Sophocles 1356). This is a good example of knowing the consequences of her actions but not fully realizing the impact it has. Antigone doesn’t comprehend the effect her disregard for the law and her own life has on her family. Her sister Ismene begs her to not bury her brother, saying, “How terrible if we as well are executed for disobeying the lawful orders of the head of state” (Sophocles 1349). Antigone doesn’t understand how this action will further tarnish her family’s name and how her sister will

have to also bear the burden of her decisions.
Both these characters lack the foresight to consider how their actions affect their future and their family’s future. They think that everything is about them and only them. This is dangerous not only to the physical self and person, but a danger to others because it could physically harm people who are involved or not. Just because it’s ill effects may not be broad reaching, it still touches people that aren’t directly involved.
The people that are left behind are forced to suffer for the persons actions.
The last piece of this theme that these literary works share is how the character don’t have an understanding for how the world works.

For example, In Antigone, we see that she is willing to die for her brother right to a burial. What she fails to see is that her death will not overshadow her brothers. It seems as though she is trying to outshine him by being a martyr, without even realizing it. She thinks that after death people will start to care about her brother, but that simply doesn’t work, it dies with her. She is the only one fighting. When confronted by Creon after being caught burying her brother, Antigone tells her sister, “Don’t worry. You won’t die. But I’ve already sacrificed my life to help the dead” (Sophocles 1358). This is a major example of her being prideful of her actions. She’s ignorant to the fact that her name isn’t everything. In this time, women don’t have the ability to be martyr, her death is nothing. Another example of this is in the Poem, To the Virgins, to Make Much of time” by Robert Herrick. In this poem the narrator warns young people to cherish what you have, because once it’s gone you’ll only have memories and lessons learned. This is shown in the beginning of the poem where he says, “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, // Old time is still a-flying; // and this same flower that smiles today, // tomorrow will be dying” (Herrick 206). This tells a younger audience that what is here today, my not be available tomorrow, and you need to cherish

what you have because it won’t be around forever, that isn’t how time works. Whether negative or positive, ignorance to how the world works happens to young people because they simpy don’t understand how the future will be impacted by the present. This itself is dangerous because it can have effects on more people then just one. Weather it meant to be positive or negative, a lack of knowledge to how the world runs and society’s values and culture could leave dangerous marks on
It should be noted that ignorance is not inherently stupid. It is simply not fully knowing and understanding the situation, you don’t know the dangers of life, how the world works, and that ignorance is simply bliss. However, ignorance is still very dangerous because it opens up the possibility of many people getting hurt wither they are directly involved, indirectly involved, or not involved at all. Ignorance leads to a lack of control of the situation which can lead to a conclusion or consequence that a character may not see or predict, which we see in each of these literary works. While some may say ignorance is bliss, it’s also extremely dangerous.