Perchance to Dream story
A man with a severe heart condition who has been awake for a long time tells his psychiatrist that he will die if he goes to sleep, because a vixen is trying to kill him. Directed by: Robert Florey. Story by: Charles Beaumont.
11 total · 7 major · 4 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| descent into madness | major | Edward described his gradual progress towards loosing his mind, in great detail. |
| doctor and patient | major | Most of the story involved Edward discussing with his psychiatrist. |
| fear of sleep | major | Edward was afraid of falling asleep because he was convinced that he would be murdered in his dreams. |
| sleep deprivation | major | Edward kept himself awake because he feared a Cat Girl in his dreams would bring about his death should he dare to fall asleep. Unfortunately an unrelated heart condition meant that Edward’s severe sleep deprivation, in addition to being debilitating, threatened to be fatal. In the end, he was driven to suicide by auto-defenestration. |
| the need for sleep | major | We saw Edward at his wit's end for want of sleep. |
| what if I were trapped in a nightmare | major | Edward was couldn't get out of a dream in which he thought he was going to be killed. |
| what if my thoughts became reality | major | We must ponder whether Edward's dreams were real, or just excitement. |
| choosing between equally futile actions | minor | Edward was had to choose between facing a murderous woman in his dreams or risk dying from his congenital heart condition should he stay awake: he pitched himself out a window instead. |
| infatuation | minor | Edward and Maya feigned besottment with each other. |
| persecution complex | minor | From the doctor's point of view, Edward's insisting that a mysterious woman was out to get him in his dreams was completely irrational. |