The Dreams of the Lady of Mount Hira

I thought that the first class was quite interesting. I liked the fact that we listened to music and saw how sounds and lyrics mimicked dreams. It was also great analyzing the dreams of others, although I was not quick enough in taking down notes for the Freudian terms that each group analyzed. Perhaps the definitions could have been written on the chalkboard by each group? (Or maybe it's better for me to read the chapters on the Freudian terms, so I'll be able to understand what was said in class by each group better.) Also, I think that it would have been interesting if everyone got a copy of all of the dreams that were analyzed in class.

In addition, I liked the fact that we went over how to use the intricate workings of the movable type system. That was useful to me, and probably to others in the class. I really think that this course is going to be interesting because it's been a long while since I've taken a psychology course, and it's great to have a course that combines both literature (my favorite subject!) and the psychology of dreams.

I'm walking with my friend on the Queens College campus, and we suddenly enter Klapper Hall. We are in an office talking, and suddenly I look through the window and into the building across. The building, although not present in real life, has very big windows, which are made of clear glass. Through the glass, I can see professors teaching. Then I start to focus on a particular window, one in which a professor that I had a few semesters ago is teaching. Then I look away not wanting him to notice me. It's too late though. My friend tells me "he just looked right at you!" I then feel extremely embarassed, for a reason that I do not understand. The next thing I know, I'm talking to my employer, and I'm trying to help a male customer, but my boss grabs the customer's ear, and tells him "No, get away from her!" In the dream, the customer did nothing wrong, yet my employer continued to accuse him of doing something which he did not do. Because of this I became very upset with her and started to cry. After this, I woke up. This dream felt somewhat real. It was as if these events actually occurred. Does anyone ever have dreams that feel as if they have actually taken place?

In reading Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams, I was quite intrigued. I found his analysis of dreams very interesting, yet somehow far-fetched at the same time. For many of the dreams Freud analyzed, he somehow brought in sexual content, which in some cases did not make sense to me. It is as if Freud was using "free association" in the analysis of the dreams of others by considering what happens in the dreams and then analyzing it as well as considering what he thought was linked to or associated with the dream...

It is obvious that Jung is acquainted with Freud's work since he refers to him throughout his book Dreams. I feel that Jung criticizes some of Freud's theories as he says, for instance, "Freud's view that dreams have an essentially wish-fulfilling and sleep preserving function is too narrow..." (Jung 38). Jung criticizes Freud's "wish-fulfillment" theory by asserting his own "compensation" theory. It seems as if he is against Freud's theory of "wish-fulfillment". Yet, Jung's work seems to be a direct response to Freud's theories.

In my dream, my mom wants me to drive her somewhere, and she speaks to me in our native tongue of Lahori Punjabi. It seems that my brother has allowed me to drive his small black car. But when I am in the car, it is night time, and I am by myself for some reason. I am no longer with my mother. Since I do not drive in the conscious world, I feel the dread of driving in my dream. I am self-conscious and apprehensive. However, as I turn the ignition, I start to drive to my sister's house, and I feel the ease and thrill of it. Driving is like a drug; I become addicted...

Reading Kafka has been fun. The stories we read were all odd, but somehow interesting. I especially liked "A Country Doctor". It seemed the most understandable to me. In class, we analyzed a scene from any of the readings that we had to do for Kafka. I chose a scene from "A Country Doctor" and analyzed it.

I am in my sister's room, and I look outside of her large box-shaped window. It looks as if the sun is about to set. The sun rays travel across the room, which are affixed around the sealing. It brightens the room that has already become dark. I open the curtains that feel like velcro and have orange flowers on them with a sky blue print. Outside, the scene is picturesque. It seems to be fixed. There is no movement. The cars are all parked; the trees are still, with no movement of the leaves. Even the birds on the trees do not move. Suddenly this picture which seems projected looms closer and closer to me. It comes so close that it becomes the shape of the box-shaped window. Then, all color is stripped and darkness prevails. The picturesque scene thus becomes a black box that moves across the room with me as I walk away from the window. There is light in the room, however, there is also an ever present black box when I look straight, sideways, or anywhere. It's as if I am following this box, but no, it seems to be following me. Next, I lay down on my sister's bed and close my eyes. Darkness prevails. I then open my eyes and the black box looms above me. It races across the room. I close my eyes again, and I cannot remember anything else except that I am awake.

Odd dream, no? Can anyone offer any interpretations?