
In Lyn Hejinian’s poem “The Book of a Thousand Eyes” (1), she is questioning how people interpret the meaning behind dreams emotionally and scientifically. Events surrounding her life, occurring during her writing, and the clash of old and new events and beliefs affected Lyn Hejinian’s poem.  The view of dreams, from a scientific perspective, was still relatively new in 1941; when Lyn Hejinian was born.  It had only been about half a century since Sigmund Freud introduced this type of thinking for the ordinary public to view.  conversation that was started because of this changed the common view on what dreams are.  This along with other ideas were similarly being called into question during Lyn Hejinian’s younger years.  Closer to the time she was writing her poem many events were influencing people in a way that is reflected in the poem.  Together the questioning along with the emotional unrest created a doubting effect in Lyn Hejinian’s poem.  Lyn Hejinian’s poem was subconsciously influenced by the conventional shift in psychoanalytic theory and cultural practices. 

Due to the mystery of the processes and the functions of dreams, there have been many speculations throughout history from a more opinionated perspective, such as prophetic dreams.  Theories, such as these, can be found in ancient Egyptian culture, ancient Greek culture, the Bible, psychics, etc.  However, it wasn’t until after 1899, when Sigmund Freud’s theories were publicized in his book “The interpretation of Dreams” (5), that the scientific side to dreams became a public interest.  The most commonly spoken of scientific notion, when talking about dreams, is Sigmund Freud’s theory that dreams contain repressed memories, fears, and desires.  Although this has been called into question and the Unites States of America’s general views on the purpose of dreams changed, he did start the conversation.  Lyn Hejinian was living in this type of environment and growing with the developing the theories about dreams.  Throughout her life, theories about dreams were being explored scientifically; while the previous views were becoming perceived as baseless.  Even so, the previous opinions on the matter were still intense passionate beliefs for many.  This conflict of opinions created by historical beliefs being doubted creates instability in belief itself.  This doubt shows in Lyn Hejinian’s poem “The Book of a Thousand Eyes” (1) through subtle insinuations of questions, of this doubt in belief, shown in her writing.  For example, “A dream, still clinging like light to the dark, rounding; The gap left by things which have already happened; Leaving nothing in their place, many have nothing to do; But that” (1), is speaking of how dreams are nothing but leftover memories.  “The light” (1) symbolizes the dream; “the gap” (1) is the moment in time where nothing is being done to memorize, what is dreamt during sleep.  However, later in the poem, “To seem preordained?  The dawn birds are trilling; A new day---it has the psychical quality of “pastness” and they are trailing it” (1) is the point where she questions the previous thoughts. Saying, even though this is what is known to be a dream it still gives the impression that there is something more, but as the dream fades with the day as do these feelings.  Living in such an environment full of contradictions would shape how one views the world.  This shows in Lyn Heiman’s poem when she asks questions that are similar in a different way. “Why?” (1) and “What is being sold there?” (1)  is one set of examples.  First, “Why” is asking from a more imaginary level, while “What is being sold there” (1) is a more specific question that causes you to examine the details about the surrounding in the dream of the machine.  It does not say what what is seen after asking this question, therefore focusing the reader on the question itself.  Why do you need to know what is being sold there?  The answer, you don’t, the purpose was not to decifer what the items symbolize..  The action of looking for something is where this was intending to lead.  Another insinuation that confirms this, is that there was never any mention of a market before this, bringing your attention back to actions rather than the items that are seen or not seen.  The changes that she has been living in create this type of thinking by forming a normality out of the very act of questioning everything.  These questions she poses are reflective of the impact of the culture from her younger years.

The constant change in the culture during the mid-nineteen fifties clashing with fear, terror, etc. in the twenty first century, is another type of experience that has influence.  The long-term cultural impact is important; however, the current events of the 21st century, that were influential around the time of her writing and publishing the poem, are just as important.  This is because an effect from a recent event has more bearing on emotions than a past event, however, the fundamentals of a person’s existence are not qualities that will change without difficult. The culture throughout Lyn Hejinian’s life affected how events, closer to the time she created the poem, affected the way she was thinking and feeling while creating it.  Darkness and light, apathy and curiosity, science and emotion; these things signify opposing forces as well as confusion.  They are subconscious symbols of how the cultural conditions are affecting her.  Some examples of this conflict are Technology advancing, but terrorists using that to harm people, or Science advancing, but previously thought truths being destroyed; good people, doing bad things.  These conflicts create the doubt that is seen in Lyn Hejinian’s poem. In the article from the New York Times in 2009, “Newer theories hold that dreams help the brain to consolidate emotional memories to work through current problems” (2) is an example of how dreams were being regarded by people around the time “The Book of a Thousand Eyes” (1) was published.  From the point of view that this article is using, the dreams the people of the time would have been influenced by these events.  This constant worry of a new disaster taking place was ever present, creating a feeling of fear, anxiety, hopelessness, depression, etc.    These feelings show in her poem when she says, “Sleep is immediate and memory is nothing.” (1)  Sleep, it is a way you can leave reality to escape the things you don’t want to remember at any time.  During this time of uncertainty, it would not be uncommon to long for the illusion that the horrible memories from distant or recent past, were not real.  However, like with her more depressing dreams like “a procession to an execution site” (1) she sees that dreams are not always pleasant either.  Events in the waking world could still impact the dreamer’s dream.  Nevertheless, simply knowing that the events in a dream are not real can bring contentment.  There are also specific examples of how some of the most known 21st century events affected her poem during her writing process. “And wolves in the hills?” (1) signifies the ever-present danger lurking over her.  The shock that was brought with the terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York is only one of the many things that added to this feeling of lurking danger.  However, this is a specific reason, because it was an attack in a place that once felt safe.  “a procession to an execution site; How many strangers could circle the space while speaking of nostalgia.” (1) is more straight forward.  After a few years of living in worry, death and frightening things became common.  There is no longer shock caused by a death.  The various emotions that can be seen from these pieces of Lyn Hejinian’s poem are directly related to the events that were taking place around the time she was writing her poem..

 

In the article “What are Dreams?” (3) available in The Washington Post written by William A. Hammond, there is a statement, “We may conceive of things which never existed, or of which we have heard or read, but the images we make of them are either composed of elements familiar to us or else are based upon ideal representations which we have formed in our waking moments.” (3) Basing Lyn Hejinian’s poem on the idea provided by Willian A. Hammond, there is a foundation to her confliction.  We could assume that, because of the many incidents that are creating these conflicting feelings, the dreams Lyn Hejinian stated are viewed in a vague way, due to these many events.  Pulling one of the examples from before, the darkness and the light, is representing the struggle to stay as something understandable, good and evil are always next to each other, or how day always comes after night.  Throughout her life, there has been very little stability when it comes to what one believes to be true.  This instability causes the emotions that are being felt to be much stronger.  This instability in her emotions would cause doubts.  When a tragedy, such as the attack on the world trade center in New York city, occurs the unstable parts of one’s belief system would be enhanced.  By her doubting the belief system itself, she is put into a position where she must question everything.  There are subtle and intentional questions in her poem.  Some of these types of questions can be seen through the course of Lyn Hejinian’s poem.  “Why?”, “What (…)” (1), and “How (…)” (1) are the simplest examples.  Why, is everything the way it is?  What is true?  How can I believe anything anymore?  These questions are only one example of what each question could possibly be saying.  However, they are questions none the less.  Another example that is less simple, but alternatively it is more precise, “(…) contemplating beauty instead.  But isn’t that the problem with beauty---It’s apt in retrospect” (1).  There is a problem with the way beauty is already thought about. She believes beauty is apt when looking back on it, rather than thinking of while it is taking place.  On the other hand, she is asking as if to confirm that what she believes is right.  She is looking for a confirmation by questioning herself; is this belief, in fact, true? This self-doubt is caused by her internal conflict, of lifelong emotional instability and the recent emotional turmoil that was taking place around the time she was writing. 

.  

Some of these types of questions can be seen throughout Lyn Hejinian’s poem.  “Why?”, “What (…)” (1), and “How (…)” (1) are the simplest examples.  Why, is everything the way it is?  What is true?  How can I believe anything anymore?  These questions are only one example of what each question could possibly be saying.  However, they are questions none the less.  Another example that is less simple, but more straightforward, “(…) contemplating beauty instead.  But isn’t that the problem with beauty---It’s apt in retrospect” (1).  There is a problem with the way beauty is already thought about. She believes beauty is apt when looking back on it, rather than thinking of while it is occurring.  On the other hand, she is asking as if to confirm that what she believes is right.  She is looking for a confirmation by questioning herself; is this belief, in fact, true?  This is caused by her internal conflict, of lifelong emotional instability and recent emotional turmoil. 

The historical impact of a poem in Lyn Hejinian’s book, “The Book of a Thousand Eyes” (1) is buried deep behind the words it says.  Beginning with the change that Sigmund Freud’s theory, that dreams contain repressed memories, fears, and desires (3), started in the late eighteen hundreds; along with other cultural changes throughout Lyn Hejinian’s life, affected the words she wrote in her poem.   While, the current events that affected Lyn Hejinian and her poem are found in the words that show her desire for escape; caused by terrorism, severe weather, an even further advancement in technology, along with other similar occurrences.  Also, the way Lyn Hejinian’s core foundational belief was shaped throughout her life, affected how the events surrounding the time she was writing this poem subconsciously influenced her to create the questions that are posed throughout this poem.  Some were simple questions, like why, what, and how.  While others were more complicated like questioning her own question of beauty.  Dreams have always been a popular topic, but the view of dreams, from a scientific perspective, was still relatively new in 1941; when Lyn Hejinian was born.  It had only been about half a century since Fraud introduced this type of thinking for those in the ordinary public to view.  By her questioning how people interpret the underlying meaning behind dreams emotionally and scientifically in her poem, “The Book of a Thousand Eyes” (1) Lyn Hejinian was subconsciously showing how the culture was affecting her.  Her poem was influenced by the emotional effect of the significantly evolving culture of the public.
