Freudian Interpretation of Dreams in The Strange Library

Using Freudian psychoanalysis of dreams, I will interpret the meanings of significant elements in The Strange Library. The whole dreamlike story may be the protagonist’s subconscious attempt to reconcile a traumatic loss and consequent mental illness. The big black dog that the boy is afraid of (which attacked him at a young age and reappears again) represents something that the boy is afraid or ashamed of or a trauma connected to his shadow self. The color black also often represents depression and suicidality, which the boy may have been struggling with after experiencing a traumatic loss. Referencing my previous blog post, the boy’s repressed shadow self is the old man, who imprisons him in an attempt to overcome the repression of the shadow self and to exert control over his conscious, dominant self. The shadow self represents everything negative that the boy has repressed, including shame and fear that could be linked to his trauma.

The dog may be a representation of trauma that the boy experienced at a young age, which continues to represent a hurdle to his self-growth and healing, often reappearing at times of distress, like when the boy attempts to escape the labyrinth but is thwarted by the old man, the dog at his side. The starling, which ultimately saves the boy from the dog, often represents positive guidance, hopes, and dreams. The sheep man and the girl may also represent people in the boy’s life who have been support systems for the boy - cooking, consoling, and ultimately helping him escape from the cell in which he is trapped. In this context, it’s possible that the boy is able to overcome a traumatic episode and severe depression through positive guidance, the support of others, and the hope that things will get better and that he will survive to see better days.

Thus, with the help of the starling, sheep man, and girl, the boy is able to escape the old man and the dog and leave the library, which represents his intrapersonal conflict. However, after the boy escapes, he learns that his starling, the old man, and the girl are gone, and his mother has passed away, leaving him alone. The current sources of positivity in the boy’s life have disappeared. This may represent the idea that healing is not linear, and trauma recovery and mental illness cannot be simply “cured.” These are not things you can simply escape or run away from, but rather a lifelong, difficult process, which can be exacerbated by additional losses or traumatic experiences, leading to compounded trauma. The Strange Library shows that while it is possible to overcome difficult experiences, you must accept the reality of traumatic loss and experience and deal with them, rather than trying to escape. While you can absolutely survive this emotional pain and perhaps even grow stronger because of it by relying on others and your own hopes, dreams, and resilience, it may be something you will contend with for the rest of your life, and it’s okay if your healing and grieving process are not linear.

- Christa