What just happened?

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As I sat there reading this short story, the only thought that was going through my mind was along the lines of This has to be a dream because it doesn't make any sense at all. I don't know about you all, but when I try to recount my dreams to someone the next day, it's difficult because the sense of time is completely different when you're asleep; the scene can change in a split second and without any sort of transition and your dream-self wouldn't notice a thing. That's what seems particularly dreamlike to me about Mr. Brown's adventure, the sense of time. An example of this is when he seems to be flying down the path in the forest and suddenly shows up at this cult meeting at the speed of light. Also, he has no clue how any one could've gotten to this meeting because no one goes this far into the forest. Everything about this story is utterly bizarre to me, and I'm looking forward to discussion tomorrow because I'm pretty sure I have no clue what's going on.

I commented on Abigail and Darby's posts.

Comments

  1. Ethan LafontNovember 6, 2017 at 9:06 PM

    I wonder if we are witnessing a drugged up writer again haha. Seems to be a trend recently. I think he might be writing in this way to get rid of the boundaries of "reality" outside of dreams.

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  2. Michael TurnerNovember 6, 2017 at 9:15 PM

    Hector Berlioz arranged his "Symphonie Fantastique: Dream of a Witches Sabbath" under the influence of opium. It seems a normal thing for some writers and musicians. I have to admit some of my best writing was done with alcohol in my system a few years ago. Although the story seems not to make sense, it does hit at the point that appearances are not everything. I think this is one of the main points Hawthorne hits on. An apparent religious man is corrupted (enlightened) by the revelation that the other pious people in his town are all devil worshippers. Drug induced? Possibly. Yet, it conveys a strong meaning.

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  3. Zelda PeachNovember 6, 2017 at 9:16 PM

    The blurred lines on whether or not it is reality or simply a dream Goodman is living in illustrates to me how skilled of a writer Hawthorne was. I am utterly amazed by and love this short story, not for the plot exactly, but for the technical side of things. However, that being said I would like an ending; hopefully our discussion in class tomorrow can provide some sense of closure. I wish I could've met Hawthorne when he was alive; I would have loved to ask him about the story.

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  4. Nathanael C. CarrollNovember 6, 2017 at 10:45 PM

    I'm completely with you on the confusion. BUT I think Hawthorne wanted it that way so that when you finished, you asked the question just like Goodman--was it a dream or reality.

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