If you can't understand why someone is doing something, look at the consequences of their actions, whatever they might be, and then infer the motivations from their consequences.
I think it's important to stay true to the source material, but also to bring your own vision to it.
孔子说:“生来就知道的,是上等人;学习后才知道的,是二等人;遇到困难才学习的,是三等人;遇到困难也不学习的,这就是下等人了。”