The Dream in "Dream on Monkey Mountain"

Visionary Experience and Hypoaroused Events

- The play "Dream on Monkey Mountain" shows distinct correspondence to Robert
Forman's definition of mysticism which differentiates between two mystic states:

Ergotropic (hyperaroused) states are marked by schizophrenic visions and/or

hallucinations which are referred to as visionary experiences
Trophotropic (hypoaroused) states are "marked by low levels of cognitive and
physiological activity" this leads to a void in thought this in turn creates
a panentheistic experience in the play

- The concept of panentheism (= "all-in-god") claims that "all things are made up of
one principle, but that one principle is not limited to those worldly phenomena"
for example: humans are made up of a certain "stuff" which extends beyond them
and is also part of something else

Structure of the dream

- Although sacred events fall mainly on the hypoaroused, trophotropic side, the
visionary experiences in "Dream on Monkey Mountain" combine both aspects of
mysticism the hypoaroused state sets the stage for the hyperaroused
hallucination
- The parts of the play that contain a lot of sensory data (e.g. the spider web, the
sight of the woman singing, the white mist) depict Makak's hypoaroused state: a
settling down of the mind and body can be observed; This state can also be
considered an introvertive mysticism (Makak as an inactive, passive being) which
then turns into an extrovertive mysticism (Makak takes action)
- According to Walcott's notes, the entire play is part of the dream (including both
the prologue and the epilogue)
- The segment between Part I, Scene I until the end of Part II is a flashback that
dramatizes Makak's story up to the prologue
The prologue and epilogue thus symbolize an introvertive event and the part in
between can be seen as an extrovertive experience