A Dream Within a Dream Isolation Quotes

The speaker voluntarily leaves the women and isolates himself. It's almost like he knows he has an important journey ahead and must go it alone. Then again, perhaps he wants to isolate himself from the woman who has told him life is a dream. We mean, that's not exactly a compliment.

The speaker is alone, on a very loud ("roar"), dangerous beach ("surf-tormented"). The noisy, scary setting reflects some of the turmoil and frustration of being alone, and the big scary thoughts that are roiling around inside his head.

Even the sands want no part of the speaker's plans; they desert him ("creep / through"), almost as if they, too, realize that his quest for understanding must be undertaken in solitude.