by Rayna Mon 08 Dec 2008, 15:27
"The Butterfly Dream" is a parable by the classical Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi, whose ideas have enjoyed a revival with postmodern thinkers. The parable is thus: Zhuangzi had a dream of being a butterfly that was so fantastically vivid, so convincing, that when he woke from it he was no longer entirely sure whether he was a philosopher who dreamed of being a butterfly or a butterfly who dreamed of being a philosopher.
The "moral" of the parable is that reality is subject to our interpretations, no more necessarily "real" than our dreams. In Holic, the butterfly motif is ALWAYS connected to Yuuko. Thus, invoking the "Butterfly Dream" parable is likely to be foreshadowing that there's going to be a choice involved between reality as it is currently perceived and the future as it has been dreamed to be. It also likely references how Watanuki is becoming more "real" by altering people's perceptions, because even his very existence is subjective.
[by The nakedcat]
[/quote]
Thank you for sharing that! :D
That reminds me of a more Western story I know; where a person of a certain tribe is running from the Aztecs; who are celebrating a ceremony which involves sacrificing their prisoners. Anyways, the story starts by explaining that the person is in modern day, and gets into a motor-cycle accident. While he is in the relaxed atmosphere of the hospital, he has chaotic dreams of being chased by the Aztecs for being a sacrifice. He watches in fear as his friends are sacrificed one-by-one and his turn draws near.
Then he wakes up in the modern day hospital, enjoys his medication, warm food, and talks to other patients. He falls asleep again, and dreams he's been imprisoned, and soon to be sacrificed. He eventually gets carried up to the alter to be sacrificed - and just before the priest is about to kill him with the sacred blade - he realises - this is his reality. He is about to die, and the world of him being in a safe secure hospital was merely a dream, a wonderful dream.
So, I ponder what CLAMP has in store for us, as so much "reality" has been altered, and merged, and re-established thanks for FWR and "Syaoran".
:) I'm quite excited!
Sat 23 May 2009, 14:30 by Saikua
» Kingdom of orphans
Sat 23 May 2009, 14:29 by Kirei Ryuusei
» Vanapia Hanto: Kawari Unmei
Sat 23 May 2009, 14:27 by Saikua
» The Prince Detective
Sat 23 May 2009, 14:26 by Kirei Ryuusei
» xxxholic chapter 182
Sat 23 May 2009, 13:55 by Seishirou
» One million pages thread!!
Sat 23 May 2009, 13:37 by Kyoki
» Rate that Character
Sat 23 May 2009, 13:36 by Kyoki
» Give the person above you a nickname
Sat 23 May 2009, 13:36 by Kyoki
» Watcha doing?
Sat 23 May 2009, 13:35 by Kyoki
» Banned game!
Sat 23 May 2009, 13:34 by Kyoki
» Horitsuba Gakuen
Sat 23 May 2009, 13:17 by Kirei Ryuusei
» Science and Life
Sat 23 May 2009, 12:46 by Jinx Rose Death