Dream Children by Charles Lamb Summary

Summary of A Reverie (Dream Children: A Reverie) by Charles Lamb

Charles Lamb's A Reverie is a touching essay in which the narrator imagines telling stories to his two dream children, John and Alice.

He tells them about their great-grandmother, Mrs. Field, who was a kind, religious, and respected woman. She looked after a large old mansion in Norfolk, though she was not its owner. She loved the house and took care of it as if it were her own. The mansion was famous for its beautiful wood carvings that told the story of the Children in the Wood. Mrs. Field was brave and believed that the ghosts of two children appeared in the house, but she was never afraid of them.

The narrator also describes how beautiful, graceful, and cheerful Mrs. Field was in her youth. Although she later suffered from cancer, she remained courageous and never lost her faith or good spirit. When she died, many poor people and neighbours attended her funeral because they loved and respected her.

As the story continues, the narrator recalls his happy childhood visits to his great-grandmother Field's large country house. He describes how he loved wandering through its empty rooms, old gardens, orchards, and fish pond. Although delicious fruits like peaches and nectarines were available, he enjoyed nature and peaceful walks more than eating them.

The narrator then speaks affectionately about his brave and handsome uncle John L., who was greatly loved by everyone. Uncle John often carried the narrator when he was lame as a child and always treated him kindly. After Uncle John died, the narrator did not realize at first how deeply he loved him, but later he felt great sorrow and missed his kindness, even his occasional scolding.

As the narrator tells this story, the children listening become emotional and ask him to stop talking about Uncle John. Instead, they request stories about their dead mother. The passage highlights themes of childhood memories, love, loss, family affection, and nostalgia.

The narrator loves a woman named Alice W-n and hopes she will marry him, but she keeps refusing him. While talking to two children, he looks at Alice and feels that she reminds him of another Alice from the past. He becomes confused and lost in his thoughts.

Suddenly, the children begin to disappear. They silently tell him that they are only imaginary children because he never married Alice. Her real children belong to another man, Bartrum. They say they are only dreams and can never become real.

The narrator then wakes up from his dream. He finds himself sitting alone in his chair with his sister Bridget beside him. He realizes that the happy family he imagined never existed and that his dream is over forever.