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Modern Dream Analysis of The Poem The Chimney Sweeper
Modern Dream Analysis of The Poem The Chimney Sweeper
ARJUN PRAKASH
Abstract
on dream analysis one can understand that dreams are often reflections
Freud’s Dream analysis and they help us to imbue our dreams with new
modern dream analysis it tries to provide the reader with an ample idea
Introduction
In 1789, Blake brought out his Songs of Innocence, which included the poem The
Chimney Sweeper.A little boy who is the chimney sweeper is the speaker of the poem. In this
poem the children, who are working as chimney sweepers desire to have a happy life with
freedom. But the sad reality is that their only way to escape from their bleak life is to have
dreams. So they dream of having freedom, hope that one day angels sent by God will come
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and save them from this life in which they are trapped like salves. The poem also satirises the
The dreams that these chimney sweepers have are reflections of their anxiety. It
highlights the sufferings that they are facing and also implies their desire to have free. These
kids are doing work when it is their age to play, to make friends, to be careless, to learn, to
enjoy and to smile with utmost happiness. Their hope to escape is transformed to their
discipline to follow all rules and regulations that will ensure their safety. So without
complaining
Some of our nightmares reflect our real life situations and is an indication to the
problems that we are dealing in our life. Some of the common nightmares and their modern
analysis include:
Being chased
When a person is having a nightmare of being chased it means, that person is stressed
out in real life and is running away from the problem. It is also an indication of a person who
is trying to get rid of the problem by running away from the stress. And in that nightmare if
you can identify that person who is chasing you it means that they or that particular person is
Snakes
Snakes are symbol of change. Dreams about snakes, even in nightmares can be a good
thing. Snakes in a dream even if it’s a scary dream can be a good omen because it could be a
symbol of healing and transition. This concept is entirely different from the old concept put
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forward by Sigmund Freud. According to Freud snakes in dreams represent lust and repressed
physical desires. So there is a sharp contrast in the concepts put forward by modern dream
favouring the child labour and small kids are forced to work as chimney sweepers. In the
third stanza of the poem, a little boy Tom will have a nightmare that he was locked up in a
black coffin.
The dream that tom had is signifying two things according to the modern dream
analysis.
In modern dream analysis being trapped in a cage, building, room etc. represent the
frustration ad life going out of that person’s control. A situation when one cannot control
one’s own life and is so helpless and unable to handle this situation. Trapped in a relationship
or situation can also manipulate the unconscious mind to dream like this.
The dream of being trapped in the coffin is actually Tom’s frustration being reflected.
Just because he was a chimney sweeper he was not allowed to have his white curly hair. He
loved his hair but as a part of his job his head was shaved and he was sad that he lost his hair
.it shows the miserable condition of a child labour where decisions were imposed on them
and they had to follow the orders. This dream also represent that he is not in control of his life
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(ii) Dying
Modern studies say that dying in your dream can be a positive symbol. Death in the
unconscious world represents change. For example seeing a dream of one’s own funeral may
Tom is very sad that his head was shaved bare, and his white hair is all gone. So in
that night he saw a dream of being trapped in a black coffin that is, he is seeing his own
funeral. It represents the change, a part where he is getting mature enough to accept that he is
The above lines shows Tom’s transition or personal rebirth from an innocent sad child
to a mature child who has accepted the reality of his life and is happy to work in the morning
time, either because he understood that there is no escape from this condition in his life or
because of the hope that he got from the dream that if he will be a good child and will follow
Conclusion
This is a poem which describes the major social evils that prevailed during the
1. Child labour.
2. Child neglect.
3. Condition of the poor children who were sold by their poor parents.
4. Child abuse.
6. Bondage labour.
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7. The pitiable condition of the orphaned children.
The nightmares that these kids have are a reflection of the melancholic life that they have.
Modern dream analysis show that their suffering in the real world manipulate their
subconscious to have dreams of being trapped, dying, falling etc. It also points out the fear
and anxiety that these kids experience when they are forced to work at a very young age.
Works Cited
Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms.New Delhi; Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
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