1984. Select a line or so of poetry, or a moment or scene in a novel, epic poem, or play that you find especially memorable. Write an essay in which you identify the line or the passage, explain its relationship to the work in which it is found, and analyze the reasons for its effectiveness.
Ironically enough, the most significant quote from The Doors of Perception was not a Huxley original, but derived from the words of William Blake: “If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is- infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern.” William Blake’s quote was the backbone of The Doors of Perception, for it inspired Huxley during his mescaline trip, effectively summarizes his enlightenment from the experience, and, even, gives the novel its name.
The novel begins with a brief overview of Huxley’s research into mescaline. He recounts that he hoped to “gain insight into extraordinary states of mind” and expected to see “brightly-colored visionary landscapes.” His expectations come to no surprise. Huxley was nearly blind, and his poor eyesight manifested both a great desire to see and a strong interest in the aesthetics of art and nature. After taking 4/10 of a gram of mescaline, Huxley visits the World Store, where he considers a variety of art books. He becomes captivated by the paintings. For pages upon pages, Huxley rants about the works, detailing his changed, “complete” perception of the external world. “If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is- infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern.” Huxley references Blake’s words while discussing the painting of the Nain brothers and Vermeer, of whom he had a particular fascination with. The quote rings a sort of bell inside Huxley, and he begins to see things through a new light, or, rather, through the light. He explains that men perceive a very limited, closed view of “being”, and that their reality is not actuality. Huxley elaborates on his realization of men’s “closed” doors of perception, and branches off to explain different facets of being: “All that the conscious ego can do is to formulate wishes, which are then carried out by forces which it controls very little and understands not at all…the poet-artist’s uniqueness does not consist in the fact that he actually saw ‘those wonderful originals called in the Scared Scriptures and the Cherubim.’… It consists solely in his ability to render, in words or in line and color, some hint of at least of a not excessively uncommon experience. The untalented visionary may perceive an inner reality no less tremendous, beautiful and significant than the world beheld by Blake; but he lacks altogether the ability to express, in literary or plastic symbols, what he has seen.”
Huxley’s experience with mescaline allowed him to unlock the doors of perception and delve into a world that would, normally, be unavailable to the common man. He was able to see things that he normally could not, and Blake’s quote provided for an inspirational reference. It neatly summarizes Huxley’s refreshed perception from the experience and, even, gives the novel its name. “If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is- infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern.” William Blake’s quote was, undoubtedly the backbone of The Doors of Perception.
