Dreams

Since literature (such as the Bible) often incorporates dreams as symbols and tools for foreshadowing, I am going to talk about three different types of dreams that one may encounter in life or in literature.

At 2 A.M., you are a film director as your subconscious mind creates a sequence of transitory images designed to be seen by only one person--you. Sometimes, it is an action sequence. You are running down a long, dark tunnel from inescapable serial killers until you are suddenly upside down on a roller coaster at Six Flags. Who is that cheery man next to you? Could that be the grocer you met today? No, it’s Harry Potter, and he wants you to have tea with him and Voldemort in Godric’s Hollow. Why does Harry Potter look like your math teacher? More importantly, where did your clothes go? Then, in the middle of tea time, you are unexpectedly awaken by that pesky alarm clock and might or might not remember your odd dream sequence. Dreams are typically characterized by a combination of commonplace realities and outlandish unrealities. Throughout history, dreams have been the subject of speculation among many great thinkers and, recently, people have been able to carry out scientific research on dreams and their significance. Most significant dreams in literature can be categorized in the three categories: the familiar dream, predictive dream, and nightmare. In literature, many of the dreams have an implicit meaning that can reveal anxieties, personality, or future happenings.

The Familiar Dream

The familiar, or recurring, dream is one of the most common types of dreams, and generally reveals a lot about the dreamer. Oftentimes, a recurring dream incorporates themes such as angst, procrastination, or depression. The repetitiveness of such a dream is a signal from a one’s subconscious mind to examine an event in life more closely. For instance, a procrastinator may often experience recurring dreams concerning stress and fretfulness. The stress in the dream is often an indicator of hidden apprehension that corresponds with procrastination. In addition, certain recurring dreams often expose prominent character traits. In literature, stress in a dream may characterize a character’s mental state, and certain dreams may reveal character traits, such as vulnerability or aggressiveness.

The Predictive Dream

Predictive dreams are often treated lightly as it seems ridiculous that a dream can foreshadow a previous life. However, predictive dreams can be important in telling one more about the present than the future. As Sigmund Freud, the famous psychoanalyst, said, “The future which the dream actually shows us is not the one which will occur but the one which we should like to occur.” Therefore, premonitory dreams often reveal our innermost desires and feelings. Oftentimes, premonitory dreams will predict future fight with a relative or friend. In literature, dreams can foreshadow future events in the character’s life.

The Nightmare

Nightmares are common in people and can only do harm psychologically. A nightmare is a distressing dream and involves unpleasant emotions, such as fear, anxiety, anger, or sadness. Children often experience nightmares that reflect common childhood fears, such as fear of strangers, darkness, animals, or heights. Conversely, nightmares in adults are often important indicators of emotions after traumatic events. For example, combat veterans frequently experience nightmares that involve dead bodies and fatal gunfire. These nightmares are the result of the disturbing life of a soldier and can indicate anxiety after wartime. In literature, a character’s nightmare might show hidden fears and anxieties. It can also give insight into a character’s internal mental response to a certain event.