I dreamed I was on holiday in Europe, having quite a good time. Walking through a short concrete underpass that was lit by the intense sunlight streaming in from either side, I noticed that Howard Jacobson, the author and columnist, and his family were also walking through the tunnel. For some reason, I decided to mock him for his support of the invasion of Iraq, telling him that he must really regret it now that the occupation has turned into such a disaster. I walked out of the tunnel, victorious, and got on with the rest of my day. I win again!
Returning to the house that I was living in -- one of three wooden houses in a sunny pine forest -- I was dismayed to see that someone had set fire to it. Jacobson had done this! I was sure of it! I called my friend Jeremy Nelson, who owned the house, to warn him that Jacobson might strike again, but it was too late. Jeremy, in a panic, told me that Jacobson had gone on a crazed arson spree and had burned down almost everything in Jeremy's town.
Notes for Freudian Analysis
What is Howard Jacobson doing in this dream? I have no idea what he thought about the invasion of Iraq. Whenever I've read him -- not often -- he has seemed to be mostly concerned with the fact that he is Jewish. Apart from that, I'd say that I associate him with the sort of establishment broadsheet columnists who depress me whenever I find myself reading them and who are generally in favour of blowing poor people to bits, although for strictly compassionate and humanitarian reasons. David Aaronovitch, who I identified as the source of a dream that I had on May 19th, is also of that sort. And is also Jewish. Hmm.
I should point out that I would disapprove strongly of anyone who jeered at some poor hack who was out for a stroll with his family. What do you take me for?
The other day, it occurred to me that I should phone Jeremy as I haven't seen him for months even though I should have congratulated him when I found out his wife was pregnant. (If you're reading this, Jeremy, congratulations!) Jeremy is also Jewish, now I think about it. Why would I dream about a Jewish writer punishing a Jewish IT guy for my rudeness?
Ah yes, I liked this dream better, crazed arson spree's are much better! Coming from a small Fife town I'm sure you've done your fair share of jeering, in fact I'm sure in your line of business there is nothing you like better than a good jeer!
Well done Jeremy and wife!
Duke
Posted by: Duke Ellington | July 07, 2004 at 08:34 PM