# XXII: Of Truisms: Treated Reasonably explained — The Cream of the Jest

> Chapter companion for The Cream of the Jest by James Branch Cabell.

## What happens

Kennaston awakens to the wonder of life, realizing that reality exists only in the present moment. He concludes that success lies in being fully engrossed in each instant, and he finds this in his dreams, where he experiences a range of human emotions while maintaining a detached awareness that he is dreaming. He can end any dream by touching Ettarre, treating these experiences as toys to be discarded when they no longer amuse him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Dream vs. Reality

Kennaston debates the nature of reality, finding that dreams offer a more comely way to engage with life than waking existence.

### The Search for Meaning

Kennaston redefines success as being engrossed in moments of consciousness, seeking fulfillment beyond material achievements.

## Character check-ins

### Felix Kennaston

Reflects on the nature of reality and success, finding fulfillment in his dream experiences.

### Horvendile

Kennaston experiences passions and emotions in Horvendile's person during his dreams.

### La Beale Ettarre

Touching Ettarre ends the dream, allowing Kennaston to dismiss distasteful existences.

## Key lines

> Never was man brought into contact with reality save through the evanescent emotions and sensations of that single moment, that infinitesimal fraction of a second, which was passing now.

Reality is only accessible through the fleeting feelings and perceptions of the present instant.

_Kennaston's realization that only the present moment is real._

> Success in life, then, had nothing to do with bank-accounts or public office, or any step toward increasing the length of one’s obituary notices, but meant to be engrossed utterly by as many as possible of these instants.

True success is not about wealth or fame, but about being fully absorbed in each passing moment.

_Kennaston's redefinition of success._

> He preferred in this more comely way to play with human passions, rather than, as seemed the vulgar use, to consent to become their battered plaything.

He chose to engage with emotions on his own terms in dreams, rather than being controlled by them in waking life.

_Kennaston's preference for dream experiences over raw emotional turmoil._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cream_of_the_jest_se/chapters/xxii-of-truisms-treated-reasonably
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cream_of_the_jest_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cream_of_the_jest_se/chapters