Although I WINK I am not blind

Insights

Awareness vs. Action

The proverb asserts that feigned ignorance is not the same as actual unawareness. It signifies a deliberate choice to overlook something, while remaining fully conscious of the situation.

Warning Against Underestimation

It functions as a warning not to misinterpret someone's silence or inaction as a lack of perception. The speaker is fully aware of events but chooses, for strategic reasons, not to acknowledge them at the present moment.

Discretion and Cunning

'Winking' can symbolize a form of discretion or cunning. It implies a sophisticated social awareness, where an individual observes a fault or intrigue but wisely refrains from immediate engagement.

Calculated Patience

The saying can also imply a form of temporary patience or forbearance. One might 'wink' at a minor offense, giving the offender a chance to self-correct, without surrendering the knowledge of the wrongdoing.

Strategic Inaction

The proverb reflects a sophisticated social survival skill, particularly relevant in hierarchical settings like the Elizabethan court, where openly acknowledging a transgression could be dangerous. 'Winking' was a form of strategic inaction, allowing an individual to maintain awareness of political currents ('feele what winds doe blowe') without committing to a risky confrontation.

Psychology of Perception

Psychologically, the proverb captures the internal dissonance between perception and expression. It highlights a conscious decision to withhold reaction, suggesting a mind that is actively assessing a situation rather than passively observing it. This implies calculation, patience, and emotional control.

Predatory Awareness

The cross-reference to a winking cat introduces a predatory dimension. A cat feigns sleep but remains alert, ready to act. This parallel suggests that the speaker's feigned ignorance is not just passive but a state of readiness, potentially masking a future threat to the person being observed.

Moral and Legal Forbearance

Middleton's 1661 quotation, 'Justice may wink a while, but see at last,' elevates the proverb to a moral or legal principle. It suggests that authority may temporarily tolerate wrongdoing, but accountability is inevitable, framing the 'wink' as a temporary reprieve rather than a permanent pardon.

Rhetorical Devices

Antithesis

The proverb is built on the direct contrast between 'wink' (a temporary, deliberate action) and 'blind' (a permanent, involuntary state), creating a memorable and impactful statement about perception.

First-Person Perspective

The use of the first-person 'I' transforms the proverb from a general observation into a personal declaration of agency and hidden knowledge, making its warning more direct and intimate.

Metaphor

'Winking' is used metaphorically to represent feigned ignorance, while 'blindness' stands for genuine lack of knowledge, allowing the proverb to comment on complex social interactions through a simple physical act.