The Dream of Duncan Parrenness
The narrative follows Duncan Parrenness, a writer for the East India Company in Calcutta, who recounts a troubling dream after a night of revelry. Reflecting on his life, he recalls his unrequited love for Kitty Somerset, who married another shortly after he left for India, and his infatuation with the enigmatic Mrs. Vansuythen. As he grapples with his past and the moral decay he perceives in himself, he is visited by a spectral figure resembling himself, aged and scarred by vice. This apparition challenges Duncan, demanding he pay a price for his aspirations and desires. The figure extracts from him his trust in humanity and faith in women, revealing the darker aspects of his character and the consequences of his indulgences. As Duncan loses these elements of his youthful innocence, he feels a profound emptiness and coldness in his heart. The dream culminates with the figure offering Duncan a gift: the strength to endure life as long as fate allows, symbolized by a piece of dry bread. This gift represents a harsh reality, suggesting that survival in a morally ambiguous world comes at a significant cost. The narrative explores themes of self-reflection, the loss of innocence, and the burdens of ambition, ultimately portraying a man's struggle with his identity and the choices that define his existence.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1930 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Fantasy · 2,815 words
First lines
[Footnote: Copyright, 1891, by MACMILLAN & Co.]
Like Mr. Bunyan of old, I, Duncan Parrenness, Writer to the Most Honourable the East India Company, in this God-forgotten city of Calcutta, have dreamed a dream, and never since that Kitty my mare fell lame have I been so troubled. Therefore, lest I should forget my dream, I have made shift to set it down here. Though Heaven knows how unhandy the pen is to me who was always readier with sword than ink-horn when I left London two long years since.
What this Textopian page supports
The Dream of Duncan Parrenness is listed on Textopian as a short story by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1930 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1930 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 2,815 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Dream of Duncan Parrenness by Rudyard Kipling
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Discussion starters
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- How does this short story by Rudyard Kipling fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Window Of Dreams by Francis Sherman
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- A Little Hero A Story by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The Ship by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Through The Dark by Leigh Gordon Giltner
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores deep themes of identity, morality, and the human condition, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the protagonist's inner thoughts and struggles, particularly regarding his vices and self-perception.
- Fantasy — The dream sequence and the supernatural elements involving the character 'Myself' introduce fantastical elements.
- Historical Fiction — Set in colonial India, the story reflects historical contexts and societal norms of the time.
Tags
dream · imagination · adventure · fantasy · narrative · exploration · identity · self-discovery · conflict · society · morality · dreams