Question

Paine compares the goal of reconciliation to an “agreeable dream [that has] passed away and left us as we were.” What point is he trying to make with this metaphor?

Answer 1

Paine uses the metaphor of an 'agreeable dream' to convey that reconciliation with Britain is unrealistic and has passed, emphasizing the need for independence.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thomas Paine’s metaphor comparing the goal of reconciliation to an “agreeable dream” serves to highlight the fleeting and unrealistic nature of the colonies’ hope for a peaceful resolution with Great Britain. Paine suggests that the possibility of reconciliation has passed, much like a dream fades upon waking, and that the colonies are back to facing the harsh reality of their situation. This metaphor underscores the impracticality of reconciliation and the necessity for the colonies to pursue independence as the only viable solution to their grievances.

Answer 2

The author, with this metaphor, is trying to convey that the goal of reconciliation is an illusion, that it doesn't work in practical terms and that it doesn't change anything. When he says that it is an "agreeable dream", he is trying to express that although the reconciliation and its necessity is something agreed on, it is nothing but a dream, something that isn't real or that can't be reached in reality, in practical terms. It is just a wish, a projection, or an illusion. Also, not only is it a dream but also it is a dead dream or something like a memory of a dream. That creates a feeling of distance even bigger from reality. The goal of reconciliation is wanted, but also known to be impossible to reach. Therefore, in the end, one ends up being "left" by this illusion where they once were, and nothing is really changed. The reconciliation doesn't happen, because things would still be the same, implying that any guilt or argument that once existed would still exist after facing the illusion of reconciliation.