In the “Surfaciality” excerpt, Simon Critchley claims that our vision is obscured by our habit to think and not truly see. This habit, which Albert Caeiro refers to as the “sickness of the eyes” is problematic because we disregard and pay no attention to the simple and plain surface. According to Critchley, poets present these overlooked things in plain simplicity through poetry. The ideas present in this excerpt can be applied to the protagonist in Clarice Lispector’s The Daydreams of a Drunk Woman. Although she is very miserable with her life, Maria has followed the “ideal” role of a woman as encouraged by society. She is a homemaker, a mother and a wife (the typical expectations of society) who leaves her true wants and desires to fulfill her role as the housewife. However, she is unhappy of the choices she’s made in her life. Her role in this society can be viewed as “familiar” and very traditional. As a drunk woman, she’s able to grasp this misery. The “unlearning” Critchley’s excerpt emphasizes can then be thought of as the alcohol in Lispector’s story. Once we forget our traditional ideals, we are able to see things plainly as they are. The alcohol allows for Maria to see the “obvious” that Critchley emphasizes. By truly seeing herself without thinking about her role in society, she’s able to see her true appearance. I interpreted her state of being sober as “veiled reality” rather than “real appearance” because her actions as a housewife are expected and familiar to us. I think that Critchley brings up a good argument however I would not consider familiarity “a sickness of the eye.” I believe that although it is essential that we see appearances as real appearances, it is also important that we investigate and question through thought.