“We should write as we dream; we should even try and write, we should all do it for ourselves, it’s very healthy, because it’s the only place where we never lie. At night we don’t lie. Now if we think that our whole lives are built on lying-they are strange buildings-we should try and write as our dreams teach us; shamelessly, fearlessly, and by facing what is inside very human being-sheer violence, disgust, terror, shit, invention, poetry. In our dreams we are criminals; we kill, and we kill with a lot of enjoyment. But we are also the happiest people on earth; we make love as we never make love in life.”
Hélène Cixous on Writing as Dreaming
Hélène Cixous encourages writers to draw inspiration from their dreams, which she believes reveal our true selves without any pretense. By embracing the raw emotions and experiences found in dreams, writers can create authentic and powerful works that resonate with readers.
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Hélène Cixous, she emphasizes the importance of writing authentically and truthfully, drawing parallels between writing and dreaming. Cixous suggests that writing is a means of accessing our innermost thoughts and desires without the constraints of societal norms or expectations. By writing as we dream, she believes we can tap into a raw and uninhibited form of expression that reveals the true essence of our being. Cixous challenges us to embrace the darkness and vulnerability within ourselves, including our primal instincts and fears, in order to create honest and powerful narratives. She celebrates the freedom and liberation that comes from writing with unabashed honesty, encouraging us to explore the depths of our imagination and emotions without fear.
Modern Relevance of Hélène Cixous' Words
In today's fast-paced and image-driven society, Hélène Cixous' words about writing as we dream and confronting our innermost emotions and fears hold great relevance. In a world where authenticity is often overshadowed by curated online personas and societal expectations, Cixous' call to write shamelessly and fearlessly serves as a reminder to stay true to ourselves and explore the depths of our subconscious. By embracing our dreams and inner thoughts, we can tap into a source of creativity and honesty that is essential for personal growth and self-expression.
Reflection Questions:
Exploring our dreams and writing from a place of raw honesty can be a powerful and transformative experience. As we delve into the depths of our subconscious, we may uncover truths about ourselves that we may not be consciously aware of. Reflecting on Hélène Cixous' words, consider the following questions:
- How do your dreams reflect your innermost thoughts and desires?
- In what ways can writing help us confront and embrace the darker aspects of ourselves?
- Do you believe that writing allows us to access a more authentic version of ourselves?
- How can the act of writing, especially from a place of vulnerability, contribute to our personal growth and self-discovery?
- Are there any hesitations or fears you have about writing honestly and shamelessly? If so, what are they and how can you work through them?
Similar quotes
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“I don’t think we should try to make space our own. I believe that as modern people we should live in mobility. We should always be moving.”
“Most of us are not raised to actively encounter our destiny. We may not know that we have one. As children, we are seldom told we have a place in life that is uniquely ours alone. Instead, we are encouraged to believe that our life should somehow fulfill the expectations of others, that we will (or should) find our satisfactions as they have found theirs. Rather than being taugh to ask ourselves who we are, we are schooled to ask others. We are, in effect, trained to listen to others' versions of ourselves. We are brought up in our life as told to us by someone else! When we survey our lives, seeking to fulfill our creativity, we often see we had a dream that went glimmering because we believed, and those around us believed, that the dream was beyond our reach. Many of us would have been, or at least might have been, done, tried something, if...If we had known who we really were.”