Poem Analysis - Dream

An Intimate Dance with Despair

Federico Garcia Lorca's "Dream" is a short, evocative poem that explores the intersection of desire, loss, and the cold reality of existence. The poem unfolds as a dialogue between a heart and a fountain, creating a dreamlike atmosphere tinged with sadness and a sense of resignation. The overall tone is melancholic, punctuated by moments of fleeting joy that quickly dissipate into the somber embrace of the fountain. The use of parenthetical asides creates a sense of interiority and adds layers of complexity to the emotional landscape.

Whispers of Unattainable Longing

One of the central themes is the unattainable nature of desire. The heart initially expresses its desires with song, but this joy is short-lived. The fountain, symbolizing the cold, indifferent world, listens "sombrely." This suggests a fundamental disconnect between the heart's yearning and the possibility of its fulfillment. The repeated images of the spider spinning threads of silence and nothingness reinforce this idea, hinting at the fragility and ultimately futile nature of human aspirations.

The Symbolism of Water and Emptiness

The poem relies heavily on symbolism, particularly the recurring image of the fountain and its water. The fountain represents a source of both life and death, desire and disillusionment. It offers a respite ("My heart rests, by the cold fountain"), but also a place of finality ("My heart falls into the cold of the fountain"). The water, initially singing along with the heart's desires, ultimately carries the heart away, seemingly consuming it. The "white hands, far-out," trying to hold back the water suggest a desperate, but ultimately ineffectual, attempt to prevent the inevitable loss and submersion of the heart's yearning. The image of "nothing there in the water" at the end could mean that the desires are gone.

Echoes of Silence and Mystery

Another key theme revolves around the concept of silence and the unknown. The poem features the spider as an important symbol. The "spider of silence" and "spider of nothingness" are unsettling images. They create an atmosphere of mystery and suggest that the heart's desires are being enveloped and stifled. The question of what the "mystery" spun by the spider represents is left unanswered, inviting the reader to contemplate the unknowable forces that shape our lives and desires. Perhaps it symbolizes the fear of loss, and the inability to face our problems.

A Final Descent Into Somber Acceptance

"Dream" is a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of joy and the enduring presence of sorrow. Through the use of potent imagery and evocative language, Lorca creates a world where the heart's desires are ultimately absorbed by the cold, indifferent reality represented by the fountain. The poem's final lines, with their depiction of the disappearing heart and the empty water, leave the reader with a sense of profound loss and the realization that some dreams are destined to fade into nothingness.