rude awakening

[Ivo]

Would you tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentences?

Life had given him neither severe shocks nor rude awakenings. (Th. Dreiser, “The Financier”)

On courtship, Dr. Chesser writes: “To withhold some truths during courtship can give a false picture of ourselves and encourage a relationship on illusory foundations. And it is just this which is so often responsible for the rude awakening which can take place after marriage when the truth is sooner or later revealed.” (“The Sunday Times”)

rude awakening = deep frustration; losing one’s illusion

Thanks for your efforts.

[Thredder]

not a deep frustration Ivo, but losing an illusion yes.

Like being in a long deep happy dream, then someone throwing cold water in your face, you awake suddenly to find that your happy dream is not real, and reality is a lot worse.