# XV: “Then Seeva Opened on the Accursed One His Eye of Anger” explained — The Hashish Eater

> Chapter companion for The Hashish Eater by Fitz Hugh Ludlow.

## What happens

The narrator describes a new, terrifying phase in his hashish experiences: the appearance of a wrathful, avenging Deity. He recounts visions of judgment, a discrowned God, and a chaotic universe ruled by blind Fate. After a vision of a destroyed city and burning eyes, he finds solace in a vision of the River of the Water of Life and a scene of Achilles mourning Patroclus. He notes that ecstasy always follows pain, weakening his resolve to quit hashish.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hashish and Altered States of Consciousness

The chapter details the narrator's hashish-induced visions, including the appearance of a wrathful Deity and the experience of judgment.

### Suffering and Redemption

The narrator endures intense suffering from divine wrath and visions of chaos, but finds temporary redemption in visions of peace and beauty.

### The Search for Transcendence

The narrator seeks to transcend ordinary reality through hashish, but encounters terrifying visions that challenge his quest.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Experiences terrifying visions of a wrathful Deity, judgment, and a discrowned God; later finds solace in a vision of the River of Life and Achilles mourning Patroclus.

### Deity

Appears as a menacing, wrathful presence; later revealed as a discrowned King, with Fate ruling instead.

### Hashish

The drug that induces these visions; the narrator notes that ecstasy always follows pain, weakening his resolve to quit.

### Achilles

Appears in a vision standing over the slain Patroclus, evoking the narrator's sympathy.

### Patroclus

Appears as the dead warrior with a serene, beautiful face in the vision of Troy.

## Key lines

> Thou hast lifted thyself above humanity to peer into the speechless secrets before thy time; and thou shalt be smitten—smitten—smitten.

You have tried to see divine secrets before your time, and you will be punished.

_The narrator is told that his hashish use is an unauthorized attempt to access hidden knowledge._

> The Mighty One, who was of old held supreme, hath discovered that his supremacy is void. Fate, blind Fate, that hath no ear for thy yearnings, sits mover of the spring of all things, and He to whom thou prayest is a discrowned King.

The once-supreme God has found that He is powerless; blind Fate now controls everything, and the God you pray to is no longer king.

_A vision reveals a universe without divine order, ruled by indifferent Fate._

> This is Achilles standing over the slain Patroclus

This is Achilles mourning the dead Patroclus.

_The hashish voice identifies a vision from the Iliad, connecting the narrator to ancient epic sorrow._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hashish_eater_se/chapters/xv-then-seeva-opened-on-the-accursed-one-his-eye-of-anger
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hashish_eater_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hashish_eater_se/chapters