Short Fiction · Chapter
XXXIX explained
The narrator describes a dawn awakening where his soul, still entangled in dreamlike visions of gauze, hair, and pearls, struggles to break free from sleep.
What happens
The narrator describes a dawn awakening where his soul, still entangled in dreamlike visions of gauze, hair, and pearls, struggles to break free from sleep. Upon waking, his soul rebukes the body for indulging in unauthorized pleasures during its absence, leading to a heated dialogue between the two. The body defends its natural desires, accusing the soul of hypocrisy. The dispute is interrupted by Joannetti entering to make coffee, and the narrator falls asleep again, only to be roused by the aroma of the coffee.
Themes in this chapter
The Self and Duality
The chapter is structured as a dialogue between the narrator's soul and body, exploring the conflict and interdependence of these two aspects of self.
Imagination vs. Reality
The soul's dreamlike visions of gauze, pearls, and Madame Hautcastel's house contrast with the mundane reality of waking and the arrival of coffee.
Characters to notice
- Joanetti
Enters the room to make coffee, interrupting the quarrel between the narrator's soul and body.
- Madame de Hautcastel
Mentioned in the narrator's dreamlike vision where the soul imagines being at her house.
Key passages
“My poor soul was, as it were, enwrapped in all this paraphernalia, and the god of sleep, that he might hold her still more firmly under his sway, added to these bonds disheveled tresses of flaxen hair, ribbon bows, and pearl necklaces.”
The narrator's soul is entangled in dreamlike objects like hair, ribbons, and pearls, which the god of sleep uses to keep her captive.
Illustrates the soul's struggle to awaken from vivid, sensual dreams.
“What! said my soul, is it thus that during my absence, instead of restoring your strength by quiet sleep that you may be better able to do my bidding, you have the insolence to give yourself up to transports which my authority has not sanctioned!”
The soul scolds the body for indulging in pleasures without permission while the soul was away.
Highlights the conflict between the soul's authority and the body's desires.
“The noise of the cups attracted all the rebel's attention, who forthwith forgot everything else. In like manner we show children a toy to make them forget the unwholesome fruit for which they beg and stamp.”
The clatter of coffee cups distracts the body from the argument, similar to distracting a child with a toy.
Shows how mundane activities can resolve internal conflict.