But then I have long since grown accustomed to the thought that what we call dreams is semi-reality, the promise of reality, a foreglimpse and a whiff of it; that is they contain, in a very vague, diluted state, more genuine reality than our vaunted waking life which, in its turn, is semi-sleep, an evil drowsiness into which penetrate in grotesque disguise the sounds and sights of the real world, flowing beyond the periphery of the mind-as when you hear during sleep a dreadful insidious tale because a branch is scraping on the pane, or see yourself sinking into snow because your blanket is sliding off.
In "Invitation to a Beheading," Vladimir Nabokov explores the complex relationship between dreams and reality. He suggests that dreams, often dismissed as mere fantasies, actually serve as a glimpse into a deeper truth. They present a diluted version of reality that is more genuine than our conscious lives, which are described as a form of semi-sleep. This implies that while we believe we are awake, our perception is clouded, only grasping fragments of true reality.
Nabokov's reflection positions waking life as an altered state where real sensations and experiences emerge distorted. He uses vivid imagery to illustrate how everyday objects and noises can intrude upon our consciousness, shaping our understanding of the world around us. The notion that our perceptions are misleading reinforces the idea that dreams might hold more significance than we acknowledge, hinting at complexities often overlooked in our rational lives.
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