It's hard to tell what is really real in Something Happened. Slocum's dreams, nightmares, and realities all seem to intersect at some point in the novel. What Slocum fears most in life comes true in his dreams, and what he dreams about in his sleep comes true in reality.
Slocum's visions of his own reality are wholly his own, but sometimes things are not what they seem. It's not like Inception or anything; it's just that Slocum questions how well he remembers his past—and whether the things that happen to him have actually happened to him.
But that's sort of the point. The reality of 1960s American life, as this novel presents it, is distinctly unreal. In fact, it's utterly meaningless. How are you supposed to tell what's real when actual reality isn't particularly real?
Questions About Versions of Reality
- What roles do fear and madness play in Slocum's visions of his own reality?
- Are there any parts of reality that Slocum is able to control?
- Does Slocum ever mistake dreams and nightmares for reality, and vice-versa?
- When are Slocum's visions of reality most susceptible to falsehood?
Chew on This
Slocum is unable to separate his own dreams from reality simply because there is so much crossover between the two.
Slocum's merging of dreams and reality serves as a defense mechanism that shields him from the harsh truths of his surrounding world.