Charles Lamb’s “Dream Children A Reverie” is one of the most poignant and exquisite examples of personal essay writing in English literature. This masterpiece blends autobiography, imagination, and profound emotion in a way that continues to resonate with readers centuries after its publication.
Understanding the Historical Context of “Dream Children”
Charles Lamb and the Romantic Era
Charles Lamb (1775-1834) was a prominent English essayist, poet, and critic who crafted some of the most beloved personal essays in the English language. Living during the Romantic period alongside literary giants like Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, and William Hazlitt, Lamb brought a unique sensibility to his work that balanced Romantic idealism with personal reflection . He has been referred to by his principal biographer, E. V. Lucas, as “the most lovable figure in English literature”.
Unlike other Romantic writers who often celebrated nature and the sublime, Lamb focused on everyday life, nostalgia, and deeply personal experiences. His essays, published under the pseudonym “Elia,” revolutionized the genre of the personal essay, bringing warmth and intimacy to what had previously been a more formal medium . Through his distinctive style, Lamb transformed the essay from a didactic or formal medium into a more intimate and personal form of expression.
The Essays of Elia Collection
“Dream Children: A Reverie” was first published in 1822 as part of Lamb’s “Essays of Elia” series in the London Magazine . The collection was later published in book form in 1823, with a second volume, “Last Essays of Elia,” following in 1833. The personal and conversational tone of these essays has charmed many readers, establishing “Lamb in the title he now holds, that of the most delightful of English essayists”.
In these essays, Lamb himself is Elia, while his sister Mary is referred to as “Cousin Bridget.” This use of pseudonyms allowed Lamb to create a slight fictional distance while still drawing heavily on his own life experiences, blending autobiography with imagination in a way that would influence essay writing for generations to come.
Summary of “Dream Children A Reverie”
“Dream Children: A Reverie” presents the narrator, Elia, sitting with his two children, Alice and John, telling them stories about their great-grandmother Field and their uncle John (Lamb’s brother). The essay begins with the children gathering around the narrator to hear about their ancestors, as “children like to hear about their elders when they were children”.
Elia shares memories of his grandmother’s home in Norfolk, a grand mansion where she served as housekeeper. He describes how she was respected by everyone for her goodness and religious devotion, and how she continued to maintain her good spirits even after being afflicted with cancer. He remembers how she would sleep alone in a desolate chamber of the house and claimed to have seen apparitions of infants at midnight, though she believed they were good spirits who wouldn’t harm her.
The narrator then speaks about his brother John, describing his character and how they would go to fairs together. He expresses his deep love for his brother, saying he “missed him all day long, and knew not till then how much I had loved him” after his death. He also mentions his feelings for Alice, his childhood sweetheart, explaining to the children the concepts of “coyness, and difficulty, and denial” in courtship.
As he looks at his daughter Alice, he sees in her the resemblance of his lost love, creating a moment of confusion about which Alice he is seeing. It’s at this poignant moment that the essay takes a dramatic turn: the children begin to fade away, telling him, “We are not of Alice, nor of thee, nor are we children at all. The children of Alice called Bartrum father. We are nothing; less than nothing, and dreams. We are only what might have been, and must wait upon the tedious shores of Lethe millions of ages before we have existence, and a name.”
The essay concludes with Elia awakening from his reverie to find himself in his bachelor armchair with his sister Bridget (Mary Lamb) by his side, revealing that the entire scene with the children was merely a dream—a poignant reflection on Lamb’s own unmarried life and unfulfilled longing for family.
Literary Analysis of “Dream Children”
Blend of Autobiography and Imagination
One of the most remarkable aspects of “Dream Children” is how Lamb weaves together real elements from his life with imaginative fiction. The facts and fictions in most of Lamb’s Elia essays are “carefully blended to the point of being nearly inseparable, but ‘Dream Children: A Reverie’ makes stark the differences between reality and fantasy”.
The essay draws on several autobiographical elements: Charles Lamb indeed had a grandmother named Field who worked as a housekeeper at a grand house in Hertfordshire (though Lamb places it in Norfolk in the essay). His brother John had died, and Lamb had pursued Alice Winterton (called Ann Simmons in real life) for seven years without success. These real-life experiences provide the emotional foundation for the essay, giving it an authenticity that resonates deeply with readers.
By blending these autobiographical elements with the fictional dream of having children, Lamb creates a space to explore his deepest regrets and unfulfilled desires. The dream children serve as a vehicle for Lamb to imagine the life he might have had if things had been different, making the eventual revelation all the more poignant.
Themes in “Dream Children”
Nostalgia and Memory
Nostalgia is a central theme in the essay, as Lamb reflects on his past with a deep sense of longing and affection. His reminiscences about his great-grandmother Field, the old house, and his childhood experiences reveal his attachment to the past and his desire to keep those memories alive.
The essay demonstrates how memory serves not only as a way to preserve the past but also as a means to reshape it. Through his storytelling to the imaginary children, Lamb reconstructs his past, emphasizing the good and beautiful aspects while acknowledging the pain and loss that are also part of his history.
Loss and Regret
Perhaps the most powerful theme in “Dream Children” is that of loss and the regret that accompanies it. The essay “exhibits the subjects of pain and guilt of getting deprived of the people whom we loved from the core of our heart”. Lamb mourns the loss of his grandmother, his brother, and the love of Alice, all while confronting the ultimate loss—the children and family life he never had.
The revelation at the end of the essay that the children are merely figments of his imagination emphasizes this sense of loss. The dream children are “but phantoms of a dream,” representing “the children that would have been, that could have been, that might have been if Alice had granted Lamb her love and if they had wed”.
Reality and Imagination
The interplay between reality and imagination is a key theme throughout the essay. By revealing that the children are merely “what might have been,” Elia—and perhaps Lamb himself—”reveals a deeper emotional truth: the apparent happiness and connection that Elia felt with these imagined children betrays his deeply held desire for a family and the domestic fulfillment that his real life apparently lacks”.
This tension between the real and the imagined creates the essay’s emotional impact, suggesting that imagination can give people access to their greatest desires while simultaneously highlighting the painful dissonance when these imaginings do not align with reality.
Lamb’s Unique Style in “Dream Children”
Personal and Conversational Tone
Lamb’s style is “highly personal and mannered, its function being to ‘create’ and delineate the persona of Elia.” His writing, “though sometimes simple, is never plain.” The essays “conjure up, with humour and sometimes with pathos, old acquaintances; they also recall scenes from childhood and from later life”.
This personal, conversational approach makes readers feel as though they are sitting with Lamb, listening to him share his memories and thoughts. It creates an intimacy that draws readers in and makes the eventual revelation of the dream all the more affecting.
Blend of Humor and Pathos
One of the most distinctive features of Lamb’s writing is his ability to blend humor with deep emotional resonance. Lamb’s humor is often underlaid with “nostalgia and wistful longing.” As critics have noted, “It is a consciousness of the pathetic in life that made him laugh. He laughed to save himself from weeping.” This blend of “jest and tears” is particularly evident in “Dream Children,” which is “remarkable for its blend of humour and pathos”.
The essay moves seamlessly between lighter moments, such as the children’s reactions to his stories, and deeper emotional currents, such as his grief over his brother’s death and his unrequited love for Alice. This balance gives the essay a rich emotional texture that contributes to its lasting appeal.
Romantic Elements
While Lamb’s style is uniquely his own, it does incorporate elements of Romanticism. Like other Romantics, Lamb used “reflection” as a central element in his essays, taking “the time to stop and smell the roses, so to speak, reflecting on the details that comprise life”. His focus on memory, emotion, and the inner life aligns with Romantic sensibilities, even as his urban settings and interest in everyday life distinguish him from many of his contemporaries.
For Lamb, “the ‘ashes’ of the past blazed brightly until the end of his days,” creating a “nostalgic paradox: a wistfulness of regret and sense of loss, on the one hand, and a sense of celebration and glorification on the other”. This complex relationship with the past is characteristic of Romantic writing, which often found beauty and meaning in melancholy and loss.
Key Takeaways
- Masterful Blend of Reality and Imagination: “Dream Children” exemplifies Lamb’s skill at weaving together autobiographical elements with imaginative fiction, creating a deeply personal yet universally resonant work.
- Emotional Depth: The essay’s exploration of loss, regret, and unfulfilled longing creates a profound emotional impact that continues to move readers centuries after its publication.
- Distinctive Style: Lamb’s personal, conversational tone and his ability to balance humor with pathos showcase his unique contribution to the development of the personal essay.
- Romantic Sensibility: While distinctively Lamb’s own, the essay reflects certain Romantic preoccupations, particularly its emphasis on memory, emotion, and the inner life.
- Lasting Influence: “Dream Children” has influenced generations of essayists and continues to stand as a model of the personal essay at its most artful and affecting.
Conclusion
Charles Lamb’s “Dream Children: A Reverie” remains one of the most beautiful and poignant essays in English literature, a testament to Lamb’s mastery of the personal essay form and his unique literary voice. Through its exploration of memory, loss, and the power of imagination, the essay speaks to universal human experiences in a way that transcends its historical context.
The essay’s enduring appeal lies in its emotional honesty, its skillful blending of autobiography and imagination, and its profound insight into the human heart. As we read “Dream Children” today, we not only encounter a masterpiece of English prose but also connect with Lamb’s deeply human longings and regrets—emotions that continue to resonate across the centuries.
FAQs About “Dream Children: A Reverie”
Who was Charles Lamb, and what is his significance in English literature?
Charles Lamb (1775-1834) was an English essayist, poet, and critic who is primarily known for his Essays of Elia. He is considered one of the greatest English essayists, renowned for his personal, conversational style and his ability to blend humor with pathos. Lamb made significant contributions to the development of the personal essay and was a central figure in the literary circle that included Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, and other Romantic writers.
What is the meaning of the title “Dream Children: A Reverie”?
The title “Dream Children: A Reverie” refers to the essay’s central conceit: the children to whom the narrator speaks are revealed to be figments of his imagination—dream children who exist only in his reverie (a daydream or fantasy). The title foreshadows the essay’s twist ending and encapsulates its exploration of imagination, unfulfilled desires, and the blurring of reality and fantasy.
How does Lamb blend autobiography with fiction in “Dream Children”?
Lamb uses real elements from his life—his grandmother Field, his brother John, his unrequited love for Alice Winterton (Ann Simmons in real life)—as the foundation for the essay. However, he reimagines these real experiences within a fictional framework, creating the dream children to whom he tells these stories. This blending allows Lamb to explore his deepest regrets and unfulfilled desires while maintaining a degree of artistic distance.
What makes “Dream Children” such an enduring piece of literature?
“Dream Children” endures because it touches on universal human experiences: love, loss, nostalgia, and the power of imagination. Lamb’s masterful prose style, his emotional honesty, and the poignant twist ending all contribute to the essay’s lasting impact. Additionally, the essay exemplifies Lamb’s unique contribution to the personal essay form, which continues to influence writers today.
How does “Dream Children” reflect the characteristics of Romantic literature?
While Lamb’s work is distinctive, “Dream Children” does reflect certain Romantic sensibilities, particularly in its emphasis on emotion, memory, and the inner life. The essay’s nostalgic celebration of the past, its interest in dreams and the imagination, and its deeply personal voice all align with Romantic aesthetics, even as Lamb’s focus on domestic life and everyday experiences distinguishes him from many of his Romantic contemporaries.
