In “The Sandman,” eyes are a recurring image. They are mentioned many times throughout the story and are often associated with the Sandman, who is depicted as plundering children’s eyes. For example, he is said to throw “handfuls of sand into their eyes; that makes their eyes fill with blood and jump out of their heads” (87). Eyes are thought to represent the soul, as well as the inner self, so the Sandman’s violence towards eyes casts him as not only a villain, but also an evil devilish figure who is not just out to hurt and maim, but also to destroy someone’s soul. When Coppelius tries to extract eyes, it implies a violent erasure of individuality. The loss and replacement of eyes, as seen in the gruesome activities of the sinister advocate, can also be interpreted as the stealing of insight, understanding, and human connection—a metonym for the soul and the essence of being human.

Eyes also represent knowledge, or the ability to tell Reality from Fantasy. Readers are encouraged to question Nathanael’s ability to see clearly, as what he sees is so remarkably different from what others see. For example, Nathanael is enthralled with

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