Dream story :

Response to: "A Dream Story", translated by Arthur Schnitzler

Please choose a quote from Dream Story write out the quote. Then interpret the quote and explain why you chose this passage.

“And no dream”, he said with a slight sigh,” is entirely a dream.” She took his head and pillowed it on her breast. “Now I suppose we are awake for a long time to come.” He was on the point of saying, "Forever," but before he could speak, she laid her finger on his lips and whispered, as if to herself: "Never inquire into the future." So they lay silently, dozing a little, dreamlessly, close  to one another-until,  as on every morning  at seven, there was a knock on  the door; and, with the usual noises  from  the street, a victorious ray of light  through  the opening of the curtain, and the clear  laughter of a child through  the door,  the new day began. (pg 143)

During the story Fridolin and his wife Albertine had a boring relationship and both are having sexual fantasies with other people. Even though his wife dreams about having sexual fantasies with others, Fridolin gets jealous and wants to try to have an affair with other women. Fridolin never gets too follow through with sleeping with other women but he attempts to do so and fails. The quote I chose is at the end of the story and Fridolin confesses to his wife Albertine all he has done. As his wife Albertine listens, Fridolin promises he will never do it again. Fridolin says that is all a dream meaning that it was all fantasy. Albertine replies that they both are awake for a long time to come meaning they are aware of the wrong and are moving forward. As Fridolin regrets what he has done, he was about to say the word forever because he was trying to express to his wife that they will be together forever. When Albertine tells her husband “Never inquire into the future”, she meant that Fridolin shouldn’t look too far into the future or say the word forever because you never know what can happen in the future. The dreams story ends with a new start or beginning to their relationship and accompanied by their daughter.

I chose this quote because I was very glad that both Fridolin and Albertine decided to leave their fantasies with other people behind, confess their mistakes and start over again.  Even though they were both disconnected from each other at the beginning of the story, they managed to survive their issues and realize that it was wrong. I was glad that they were able enough to stop and realize that it was wrong especially Fridolin. Fridolin was mostly wrong because he was attempting to have affairs with other women. At least he was able to come forward to his wife and realize his mistakes. For the sake of their daughter they were willing to start over again.