Final answer:
The 'commentator' represents internal dialogue that creates mental noise, known as 'internal babble,' which prevents clear perception and understanding due to cognitive distraction. This babble obstructs a person's ability to focus and fully engage with the present moment or the truth of their environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The "commentator" mentioned by Dillard is a metaphor for internal dialogue or self-talk that we all experience. This internal babble refers to the mind's tendency to engage in irrelevant or distracting thoughts that hinder one's ability to fully perceive and engage with the world around them. It's akin to mental noise that prevents clear and focused cognition or observation.
In the context of the passages, the 'noise' of internal distraction can be thoughts, worries, or any internal dialogue that detracts from a person's ability to experience the present moment and environment fully. This mental chatter clouds their perception of reality and can keep them from seeing the truth or beauty in their surroundings or understanding complex situations.
The reason it keeps her from seeing is that this mental noise takes up cognitive resources that would otherwise be used for observation and comprehension. It's like trying to listen to a quiet melody while standing next to a loud machine; the sound of the machine drowns out the melody just as useless internal babble drowns out the subtleties of perception.