On Chesil Beach
Dream
Penny and I are holidaying along the Jurassic Coast in England. Every day I go for a walk, alone, to a beach. I am dressed in very smart casual clothes. The beach is beautiful. I take my swimmers and towel with me but I feel uncomfortable about undressing and changing into my swimmers on the beach. I am feeling out of my comfort zone. I arrive one afternoon and catch the beach in the afternoon light. It looks exquisite. The rocks have this pale-blue flinty look. The Atlantic Ocean is this aquamarine blue and looks very inviting but still I resist.
Photo by Chris Meads on Unsplash
Dream notes and associations
I think this dream is about me looking at retirement. If I went for that walk with Penny she wouldn't hesitate. She would be into her swimmers and into the water, which would put pressure on me to do the same.
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan (2007 Booker Prize winner) and the 2017 movie, directed by Dominic Cooke and starring Billy Howle and Saoirse Ronan. Set late 1950s early 1960s. The plot centres on a young, sexually inexperienced couple who have just been married and they are preparing themselves for their wedding night. They are also a mismatched pair. She comes from a wealthy upper-middle class family and is a member of a classical string quartet. He is lower middle class university graduate and a rock and roller. Her father owns a factory. I was first going to call this dream: A Pale Blue Flinty Beach until I noticed a Lonely Planet Guide for the West Country and Cornwall on the bookshelf. I looked up the Jurassic Coast and discovered that Chesil Beach was part of that coast. That reminded me of the film and the book and I saw a connection.
My feelings throughout the dream and on awakening
Overdressed at the beach, uncomfortable undressing/changing on the beach
Hi Lindsay, interesting to note the theme of resistance here and feeling outside your comfort zone – especially to something so inviting. Also interesting to note your associations and where your feelings of resistance are contrasted with Penny’s eagerness.