Dreamer in a Dead Language by Grace Paley - Summary

Everyone in the tavern is amazed by Faith's father, an old man, having written another song. They are used to artistic production coming from the young. Philip, Faith's lover, reads the poem aloud later that night in the kitchen. The poem expresses the misery that her father experienced since her mother's death, as well as a longing for a young girl who waits for him. Faith thinks the young girl is her mother, young and Philip thinks it's a different girl entirely.

They argue about old and young people, about Faith's ex-husband, about her writing. Faith gets upset and sad. They talk about poetry and Phil's ex-wife Anita, Faith's friend, and she asks him not to bring her up.

Faith, Richard and Anthony (Faith's children) go to visit Faith's father, Mr. Darwin, in an old-age home that also houses infirm young people. He can tell Faith isn't too happy. They talk about Ricardo, Faith's ex-husband. Her father tells them about a volume of songs he may publish, perhaps with other poets.

She leaves the boys with her father and goes to visit her mother in the third floor ward. She is awkward with her mother, who tells her off for being unclean and advises her to be a teacher or social worker. Her caretaker butts in and tells them about a lifetime of illness.

More conversations ensue. The following are discussed:

·       Mother-daughter relationship

·       Relationship between lovers

·       Father-daughter relationship

·       Three generations

·       Judaism and resistance to Judaism

·       Old age and youth

·       Psychosomatic illness and the power of thought

·       Husband wife (the grandparents)

·       Literature and books

·       The deterioration of old age

·       Physical age vs spiritual age/health

·       Imagination vs reality- which is better? Is it wrong to live in an imagined reality?

·       Honesty and truth (divorce and multiple lovers)

·       Generation gap- each thinks they are idealist

·       Running away from problems

·       Art (library empty; arts and crafts hall full)

·       A bessere zeit- a better time

·       Autobiographical similarities- Grace and Faith

·       Darwin

·       Psychiatry and mental health (Mr Darwin suggests Faith see a psychiatrist when she tells him that she is sleeping with three men; Faith is upset about disappointing them and suddenly feels a little ashamed and wants to run away from the problems)

·       Creating an identity separate from that of your parents'

·       Differences between siblings

·       Cultural assimilation- son named after father contrary to Jewish tradition

Grace Paley