Blindness is a compelling allegory for the conflict between the mind and reality, for the greatness and misery of the solitary thinker in the world. The protagonist of Blindness is Ken, a famous sinologist, who lives isolated in his gigantic library. The whole world for him exists inside his head, but his head does not count at all for the outside world. When the cunning old economist traps him and forces him to marry her, Ken is confronted for the first time with everyday life, and "saves" himself by seeking refuge in madness.