Dream Theory in the Novel
Dream Theorists and their Theories applied to The Unconsoled
Sigmund Freud posits that the basic function of dreams is wish fulfillment, where the dreamer desires something unconsciously but cannot express the desire in waking life. Freud describes condensation as "the psychic materical" of the dream thoughts compressed and hidden in the dream content. (Freud 212)
Novel : Boris, Stephan and Brodsky are composite figures of themselves (local people in the community) and Ryder himself at different ages.
Carl Jung agrees with Freud that condensation is a feature of dreams (Jung 11). Jung developed further ideas about collective figures. He defines the term imago as "a person whom I preceive mainly through my projections". In dreams, the imagos come from the subject's "unconscious projections". the imago is the dreamer's image or projection of themselves.
Novel: Ryder projects his memories of his past and his concerns about his future on to his imagos, Boris, Stephan and Brodsky, subconsciously. Boris is a multi-layered composite or imago because he is Boris, son of Sophie, he resresents Ryder as a child and when Ryder and Sophie are husband and wife, Boris is then Ryder's son.
J Allan Hobson describes dreaming as an altered state of consciousness where "we are not capable of critically observing, assessing and appreciating our delusional and confabulatory awarenesses" (Hobson). This suggests that full awareness and understanding is just not possible in a dream state.
Novel: Ryder is unaware of his dream-like state and often misunderstands people and events. He is nonchalant to the fact that he knows Gustav's thoughts.
Ernest Hartmann a contemporary dream theorist, defines the “contextualization of emotion” in dreams, the process whereby our dreams are linked with the concerns and wishes that surround strong memories (Hartmann 8). Hartmann has done scientific research on trauma victims to back up his theories. He admits that the “what” and the “why” of dreams are still elusive. He does argue that the dream provides a “context for the emotion” and “an explanatory metaphor for the dreamer’s emotional state of mind” (Hartmann 4). The dream is a way of working out the trauma, of experiencing the emotions in a safe environment.
Novel: Just as the dream is a safe environment for the dreamer, the dream-like structure of the novel creates a safe environment for Ryder and for the reader.
Read more:
Writing in the Language of Dream
Dream Theory in the Novel
Characteristics of Dreaming / Elements of this Novel (I)
Characteristics of Dreaming / Elements of this Novel (II)
How Dream Elements Link to Themes
Critical Reception
Suggested Reading
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