The Most Important Thing: Stories about Sons, Fathers, and Grandfathers

The dream catcher, rooted in Ojibwe culture, is traditionally used to protect sleepers from nightmares, and it becomes a central symbol of emotional healing and generational reconciliation in the short story “Dream Catcher.” Paul first notices it hanging in Road’s truck, describing it as “a small circle made of what looked like bent wood, with a string-web in the middle and feathers hanging down” (6). Its presence grows in meaning as Paul learns of his grandfather’s nightmares that are caused by his trauma from the war in Vietnam. Road’s trauma from the war affected his relationship with his son, Paul’s father, and this in turn affected Paul’s relationship with his father. Road’s house, too, has several dream catchers, signaling his ongoing attempt to ward off his nightmares. As Paul and Road drive into the mountains, Paul keeps noticing the dream catcher in Road’s car “swaying and bobbing like it was dancing to music only it could hear” (8), acting a reminder that pain and peace can exist in unison. The dream catcher thus symbolizes Turning Intergenerational Tension into Opportunity.

Circular imagery recurs in the story, most notably at the campsite where Road chooses a space within a circle of stones, surrounded by logs, which Paul notes feels like some ancient ritual space and mirrors the dream catcher’s shape.