The term "benighted" is used in literature to evoke images of ignorance, moral darkness, or a state of being lost, both literally and figuratively. In some works, it describes individuals or groups whose lack of enlightenment or guidance sets them apart or in opposition to more enlightened forces, as when Dickens refers to a "benighted" innocent [1] and contrasts cultural backwardness with modernity [2]. Other texts use it to create a mood of physical isolation or disorientation, such as when a traveler becomes stranded in the forest [3] or is metaphorically enveloped in darkness, highlighting a deficiency in understanding [4]. Additionally, the word can underscore a societal condition or moral decay, reflecting both the author's critique and the plight of those deemed unenlightened [5][6].