A Dream of Remembrances
...n conflict suggested is person vs. self. The woman wants to hold on to her son who is all grown up and has a life of his own. The swing was built for her son but the author allows us to see that the woman is displeased that it’s not being used as much: “the swing was hardly ever used now” (4), she wishes that her son would still be around to use the swing. The setting is integral and is established in the backyard by the tree with the swing. Everything is built up to understand the events that will follow. The experiences that take place until she sees James on the swing are relevant towards the rising action. According to the author, “…on that first night when she heard the creak of the swing, she did not think that she was dreaming at all” (3), acknowledges that she thought she wasn’t dreaming. She fights within herself wondering if someone is on the swing, “Could the wind be strong enough to move it, if it came from the right angle?” (4). The story continues and she spends time with her son and family on a Sunday afternoon. Within the story, the author repeats, “…she heard the swing again” numerous times to indicate the significance that she is hearing the swing being used outside. The woman is wondering again what might be causing the noises: “…for it was a still night, with surely not enough wind to stir the swing” (7). The assumption that she hears the swing every night is significant to build the major event in the story. The moment the woman arises and heads outside, she confronts the noises she had been hearing all this time. She arrives outside and realizes that a boy is sitting on the swing; she eventually recognizes that it is her son James. She is surprised to see him and states, “I’m so glad to see you…it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen you!” (12). She realizes that she doesn’t know exactly how old he is, but he is a young child. The specification, “she noticed, then, his red checked jacket…Julius had given him that jacket for his sixth birthday” allow the readers to know that he too young to be real and it is just a dream. She continues to meet him by the swing many nights and continues to talk to him. Her moods begin to change as her husband notices, “You seem to be awfully frisky lately” (37). The importance of being with her son affects her attitude and helps her deal with the events in her life. Eventually, James makes a decision that he must say goodbye. Her response surprisingly is “okay” (39). The situational irony is that the readers expect for her to be upset, but yet she takes it very well and finally acc...