Ancient community of dream and fatigue.

Question

Hi would you please tell me what is the meaning of the the underlined part of these sentences.

Men who share the same rooms, soldiers or prisoners, develop a strange alliance as if, having cast off their armor with their clothing, they fraternized every evening, over and above their differences, in the ancient community of dream and fatigue.

thank you

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Hi hossein, thanks for joining us. Welcome to English Forums.

I don't think it means anything beyond what it says. The author is just trying to be poetic.
Since it all began, people have had this need to sleep. They get really really tired. They're too tired to continue fighting or arguing about their differences. They come together for this short time as a community, sharing in this common, ancient, and pressing need - to sleep.

Best wishes, - A.

Hossein31 · Answer

Thanks a lot for your reply. Would you clarify your comment by answering these questions:

1. Do you mean having dream and fatigue is an ancient element for being friends among prisoners or soldiers?

2. There is no talk of sleep. Why did you insist on sleeping? As I have got, here the author wants to say although they are not friends, they become friends when they sgare one room.(fraternize) they forget their differnces.

3. What does exactly "community" mean here? gathering of the poeple who have common feelings, attitudes ,... OR it means a common factor or element OR it means something else?

After all, Would you please rewrite the sentences from the beginning to the end in a simole English!

Thank you very much

Avangi · Answer

hossein311. Do you mean having dream and fatigue is an ancient element for being friends among prisoners or soldiers? The last phrase in your excerpt is very poetic, and does not lend itself to exact realistic explanation. The earlier part doesn't actually say they were friends. It says they develop a strange alliance as if - - - they fraternized etc.
You can say they have fatigue (a need to sleep) before they actually sleep. This creates a natural bond between them. At this time, this thing they share is stronger then any "differences" they might have. You can't say, "they have dream" before they sleep. And once they're asleep, there would clearly be no fraternizing.
In trying to interpret your bold phrase, I take "ancient community" to refer to the fact that this phenomenon has clearly existed for as long as the world has had soldiers and prisoners.

2. There is no talk of sleep. Why did you insist on sleeping? As I have got, here the author wants to say although they are not friends, they become friends when they sgare one room.(fraternize) they forget their differnces. You originally asked me about the bold section. "Dream" and "fatigue" are both clearly related to sleep. The need for sleep is the thing which is being discussed here as the factor which brings them together. When they're rested and don't need sleep, they may be enemies, or have other "differences." Once they become exhausted, this changes. They're too tired to fight and argue. They then do whatever is necessary to get some sleep.

3. What does exactly "community" mean here? gathering of the poeple who have common feelings, attitudes ,... OR it means a common factor or element OR it means something else? I think any people who have something in common may be called a community. They may or may not be aware of each others' existence. In this case, the fact that they're together in a room and sometimes in need of sleep is the essence of their communality. Whether or not this includes a reference to "Dreamland," is debatable.

After all, Would you please rewrite the sentences from the beginning to the end in a simole English! Just at this very moment I'm showing serious signs of fatigue, and am thinking a lot about joining the ancient community.
hossein31Men who share the same rooms, soldiers or prisoners, develop a strange alliance as if, having cast off their armor with their clothing, they fraternized every evening, over and above their differences, in the ancient community of dream and fatigue.
Best regards, - A.

Hossein31 · Answer

Thank you again dear friend. Sorry for bothering you very much. As the meaning of the the bold part of the sentence is vital for me, I have to find a clear meaning of it. But I think I can now help you more by giving more explanations as I have read all the text and know the context of the sentence. First, it is a general fact the narrator is saying. It is apart from the plot or main issue of the story, although it resembles his situations. Now he wants to say a general fact about the people especially those who have share the same room like prisoners or soldiers. He says they become friends every evening although they have differences. OK. up to here is clear to me. But What I do not understand is " the ancient community of dream and fatigue". What is the role and meaning of this phrase here? What is the meaning and use of "community" here? why "ancient"?

By these explanations If you think you can guide me in a new way, I would ask you to help me.

Thank you for every thing.

Avangi · Answer

Hi, Hossein,

I may sound like a broken record, but I can't stress enough that this bold phrase is almost pure poetry. The words are not intended to be interpreted according to their exact literal (dictionary) meanings.

Also, I must repeat, your added context notwithstanding, the main statement in your original posting is: "Men - - - develop a strange alliance." The rest is all frosting on the cake.

I think you're missing the importance of the phrase "as if - - ."

"I felt totally free, as if I were flying to the Moon without a space ship."

This sentence does not state, or even imply, that I am actually flying to the Moon without a space ship.

I think the passage makes clear ("over and above their differences") that this "alliance" is not a "24/7" kind of thing. When they're rested, their natural conflicts may come to the fore.

And I think you must accept that the author does not actually say, "they fraternized every evening." (At least, not in the excerpt you have quoted)

It's fair to say that at any given time, throughout the entire history of mankind, at least half of the people in the world are fatigued and/or asleep - possibly even dreaming.

This is the ancient community of dream and fatigue.

If I say, "Okay, guys, I'm off to Dreamland. Nightie-night."

Where the heck is Dreamland??

Is it a community?? - Absolutely!

Is it ancient?? - Absolutely!

Is it poetic?? - Absolutely!

Ancient community of dream and fatigue.

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions