The Indiscreet Jewels · Chapter
XXXIX: Dreams explained
Mangogul recounts a disturbing dream in which Mirzoza's body is topped with a dog's head, prompting a philosophical discussion with Bloculocus on the nature of dreams.
What happens
Mangogul recounts a disturbing dream in which Mirzoza's body is topped with a dog's head, prompting a philosophical discussion with Bloculocus on the nature of dreams. Bloculocus argues that dreams are precipitate judgments formed by combining objects with distant qualities, a view Mirzoza extends to madness as a continual dream. Selim shares two illustrative dreams, and Mangogul jests about Bloculocus's plan to translate a Greek author without knowing Greek.
Themes in this chapter
Truth vs. Appearance
The discussion of dreams and madness explores how the mind confuses distant qualities, blurring the line between reality and illusion.
Literary and Intellectual Satire
Bloculocus's absurd claim to translate Greek without knowing it mocks scholarly pretension and the publishing industry.
Characters to notice
- Mangogul
Relates his dream of Mirzoza with a dog's head and engages in philosophical banter with Bloculocus.
- Mirzoza
The favorite who requested the dream interpretation; she astutely links dreams to madness.
- Bloculocus
The oneirocritic who explains his theory of dreams as rapid, associative judgments.
- Selim
Contributes two personal dreams that illustrate Bloculocus's theory.
Key passages
“Our dreams are but precipitate judgments which succeed each other with incredible rapidity, and by bringing objects together, whose sole connection is by very distant qualities, compose one whimsical image.”
Dreams are just hasty judgments that rapidly link unrelated things, creating bizarre images.
Bloculocus's core theory of dream formation.
“in order to translate a language, it is not necessary to understand it: because translations are made for those only, who understand it not.”
You don't need to know a language to translate it, since translations are for readers who don't know the original.
Mangogul's ironic comment on Bloculocus's plan to translate Greek without knowing it.