Literary analysis on E.T.A. Hoffmann's The Sandman - Essay Example

He then carries their eyes in a container to the crescent moon where his family is holed up and uses them for family food. The Sandman’s children have bent bills like owls which enable them to grip the food with relative ease (Hoffmann 5). Nathaniel’s various difficulties to see clearly reveals that one’s real, physical senses and those that can sense imaginary stimuli must be in adequate working status in order to enable one to distinguish between reality and illusion. This is especially true considering that both categories of Nathaniel’s senses of sight are compromised so he cannot be trusted for an accurate interpretation of the reality and imaginary aspects of life.

In light of this, the character links this terrifying creature with his dad’s pal Coppelius and his anxiety only hits fever-pitch when this man’s bad, obscured side plays a role in the demise of his father. At the time the characters exchange the letters, the protagonist is attending to some business at the college, and on his arrival he believes that a barometer trader known as Giuseppe Coppola who called in his cubicle is actually a reincarnation of his father’s old friend (Hoffmann 13). . , and the main reason for this is to create a suspense within the readers so that they are never certain if Nathaniel is merely losing his real cognizance or if his actions are influenced by supernatural powers in as much the same way as his father.

The ambiguity which surrounds Nathaniel’s life also points to the life of individuals who are in romantic relationships, as embodied in the letters. This is clearly documented in Nathaniel’s interactions with Clara and Lothaire, in which case, his logical, structured perception of the world is compromised by the imaginary feelings of love, factors which all conspire to create another form of blindness - the frantic imagination, and an urge to defy qualities of realism (Hoffmann 19). This implies that Hoffmann’s use of Nathaniel to bring out the nature of human confusion on matters of love and madness clearly reveals the weaknesses of individuals who have lost one of both senses in making sound rational and supernatural judgments.

Clara’s observation that Nathaniel has not “recovered from thy serious illness – now thou art again mine” (Hoffman 40) reveals she is more rational in her perception of realism and imaginations. The ambiguities in the story give it a subjective appearance from the protagonist’s viewpoint which, by virtue of his immense psychological challenges, he cannot correct his skewed perception of reality and hallucinations. In this case, Clara’s understanding of issues based on an enlightenment or realism perspective is more logical than Nathaniel’s romantic perceptions.

Hoffman, popular for being shy on matters relating to issues affecting society, provides a satirical evaluation of society in this story, which literally cuts a middle ground by pointing out the weaknesses of the Rational