That is why she dislikes dreams: they impose an unacceptable equivalence among the various periods of the same life, a leveling contemporaneity of everything a person has ever experienced; they discredit the present by denying it its privileged status.
The quote illustrates a character's aversion to dreams, emphasizing how they flatten the significance of different life experiences. Dreams blur the lines between past and present, suggesting that all moments hold equal weight, which undermines the unique value of current experiences. This perspective critiques how dreams challenge our understanding of time and personal identity.
By expressing distaste for dreams, the character highlights the tension between remembering past events and living in the present. The sentiment suggests that the ability to prioritize current experiences is essential for maintaining a coherent sense of self, as past experiences become mere echoes rather than definitive moments that shape identity.
