Analysis of Dream Children The question is asked as to why Gail Godwin titles her story "Dream Children" when there seems to be only one dream child mentioned. It's simply because there is more than one dream child, and they are present in more places than just the McNair house. Gail Godwin assumes that many people are or were dream children, including Mrs. McNair. McNair was a dream child when she was young and has carried the special skills of dream children with her into adulthood. The children in the dream travel all night to places other than their bedroom. They visit places in their sleep. When Mrs. McNair was a child, “she had gone through a phase of walking in her sleep” (Godwin 1044). Her parents began to worry that she might drown or hurt herself while traveling in her sleep, so they sent her to a psychiatrist. After seeing this psychiatrist, his "nocturnal travels had stopped" (1045). Now, in his adult life, he travels in his sleep again. It all began when Mrs. McNair met the baby she thought was hers. Unfortunately, her son died at birth, but in a tragic hospital accident, a baby belonging to another mother is delivered to her. This brief encounter with the newborn affected her deeply. This terrible situation, which should never have happened, led her to look at life differently. She never forgot the baby who was handed over to her. Mrs. McNair thought of him all the time, and believed that he thought of her. The child she had possessed for a brief moment sometimes returned to visit her at night. Mrs. McNair lay in her bed in a “weightless but conscious state” and “sent her thoughts everywhere” (1045). It was in this state that he felt the s... middle of paper ... ...and projects himself into a house when he is miles away. All of these examples involve people or animals traveling to different places. Her psychiatrist told her when she was young that "the race of children possesses magically sagacious powers" (1046). Mrs. McNair still believes this because of the evidence she has. This child, whose mother she was for a short time, visits her from a distant place. This child possesses magical powers and she also has the ability to travel to another level with the child she has always wanted. Works Cited Godwin, "Dream Children." 1982. Detroit, Michigan. Contemporary Literary Criticism Vol. 8. Gale Research Company. 1978. Detroit, Michigan.