Dreams 2 Essay, Research Paper

Dreams (Sigmound Freud’s interpretation)

Dreams, what are the meaning?

Sigmound Freud “Dreams, what are the meaning?”

Sigmound Freud wrote many books, publications, and articles about the subject of dreams and how to interpret them. He had many theories pertaining to why, what, and how to interpret our dreams and find a meaning hidden within them.

Freud had many theories about what certain dreams and the objects within those dreams are symbols of. His theory of dreams is based on a number of things. First of which is that dreams are essentially the method of protecting sleep. As sleep is a necessity to a healthy functioning body, the need for the mind to continue reacting to stimuli while the body is at rest, is essential. He states that dreams are the mind’s reaction to external stimuli. For example, he did tests on many patients in which he would use external forces to see if it would indeed effect their dreams. Freud placed a strong cologne in front of a patients nose, and the patient dreamt that he was in Cairo acting as a sort of “Zorro” type hero on an adventure. Then he placed a drop of water on the patient’s forehead, and the patient dreamt he was in Italy, and sweating violently while drinking Orvieto wine. So this would be one theory to how dreams come about. However, Freud pondered the question of “why do we have dreams if there is no external stimuli present?” Thus, he concluded that if there is no external stimuli then the dreamer must receive stimulus from an internal force, such as our inner most desire, wishes, fears, and problems. Such emotions are called latent dreams thought, as compared to external forces, which are called manifest dream contents. Trying to interpret our “latent dream thoughts” is called dream work. Freud believes that in order to find true meaning to these subconscious thoughts one must go through these four processes.

1. Condensation: This is the process in which two or more associations to the latent dream thought are compressed into one image. Thus we may find old, dwelling memories from our past reenacted within our dreams.

2. Displacement: A sort of censorship; meaning that things we don’t want to admit that pertain to the real object of the latent thought we disassociate and so the desire is displaced onto another object which alludes to it.

3. Symbols: Complex or abstract thoughts are converted into an image. Such as a dream in which one realizes where he is, but it is a different scene then normal. The brain associates the name to the place, but no the actual scene.

4. Reversal: The mind treats opposites as the same thing; i.e. small is big, weaknesses become strengths.

Part two of Freud’s interpretation of dreams consists of method. Method is connecting the (what seems to be) silly and random combinations of events in your dream, into a meaningful interpretation of your everyday life. Freud believes that to make this connection one must look at these strange events, and let their mind form whatever associations it is willing to form. This method allows one to freely search his/her unconscious mind and latent thoughts that can open many doors to new ideas and aspirations.

For example, Freud believes that any object within a dream, which has the capability of extending, rising, growing larger, ejecting water, or is capable of being lengthened, should be considered as phallic symbols, or the male reproduction organ. He also believes that the lower classes of cultures see sex around them more often growing up. Therefore, they are less likely to become frigid from having their first sight of sex on the marital bed.

I believe that Freud has many good points, but I also believe that he is too preoccupied with the notion that dreams most always interpret sex in some way. I think that this part of his thinking is very perverse and unacceptable. I believe that sex, in our dreams, comes from our subconscious and our inner most desires. However, I don’t see how the mere lengthening of an object can dictate a sexual act or thought.

I believe that dreams are a way to enact farfetched adventures, dreams, and aspirations that we would not be able to do in real life. Dreams are the pallets that enable us, as the artists, to have all the free will and thought to create our own masterpiece which is uniquely ours.