Dream vs. Reality

The central conflict of the novel, where Felix Kennaston escapes the tedium and disappointment of his mundane life through vivid dreams of the medieval world of Poictesme, ultimately questioning which realm is more real and meaningful.

The chapter establishes the central tension between Kennaston's mundane waking life and his vivid dream experiences, questioning which is more real.

The chapter blurs the line between waking and dreaming, with Horvendile's actions and the theatrical reveal of Maugis challenging the characters' sense of control.

Horvendile reveals that Storisende and its inhabitants are merely his dream, blurring the line between fiction and reality.

Kennaston regrets that in his own country he is called Felix, meaning 'happy,' yet he is not happy there; he prefers the dream-world of his romance where he is Horvendile.