The Hashish Eater · Chapter
XIV: Hail! Pythagoras explained
The narrator describes a hashish-induced vision in which he perceives the universe as horizonless and filled with a colossal, unearthly music.
What happens
The narrator describes a hashish-induced vision in which he perceives the universe as horizonless and filled with a colossal, unearthly music. He realizes a numerical order governing all creation and feels an overwhelming need to share the revelation, but finds it incommunicable. In his agony, he hears a voice proclaim 'Pythagoras,' and he understands that the ancient sage had the same visionary experience. The narrator argues that Pythagoras derived his mystical philosophy—including spherical music, the law of numbers, and metempsychosis—from hashish, and that the legend of the river hailing Pythagoras reflects a hashish-inspired perception.
Themes in this chapter
Visionary Experience and Imagination
The narrator's hashish vision reveals a horizonless universe, cosmic music, and numerical order, emphasizing the power of altered perception to access hidden truths.
The Search for Transcendence
The narrator seeks to share his incommunicable vision and finds solace in the idea that Pythagoras had the same transcendent experience, linking hashish to the quest for ultimate knowledge.
Self-Experimentation and Scientific Curiosity
The narrator uses hashish to explore the nature of reality and draws a parallel to Pythagoras' supposed use of hashish to derive his philosophical system.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Experiences a hashish vision of horizonless space, cosmic music, and numerical order; seeks to record the revelation but fails; hears the voice of Pythagoras.
- Pythagoras
Invoked as the ancient sage who shared the same hashish-inspired vision; the narrator believes Pythagoras derived his system from hashish.
- Hashish
The agent of the vision; described as providing 'apocalyptic draught' and 'terrific quickening' that reveals hidden harmonies.
Key passages
“The hemisphere of sky which walls us in is something more than a mere product of the laws of sight. It is our shield from unbearable visions.”
The sky's dome is not just an optical effect; it protects us from overwhelming perceptions.
Introduces the idea that our limited perception is a protective barrier.
“Suddenly my mind grew solemn with the consciousness of a quickened perception. And what a solemnity is that which the hashish-eater feels at such a moment!”
My mind became deeply serious as I realized my perception had intensified, a solemnity unique to the hashish experience.
Describes the awe and gravity of the hashish-induced state.
“In tones which linger with me to this day, a grand, audible voice responded 'Pythagoras!'”
A majestic voice, still vivid in my memory, answered with the name 'Pythagoras.'
The narrator hears the voice of Pythagoras, linking his vision to the ancient philosopher.