REVIEW BOOK "THE DREAM THIEF" (YASUTAKA TSUTSUI)

Two young genius scientists: Tokita Kousaku and Chiba Atsuko were jointly nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their breakthrough in treating schizophrenia by using a device called PT to penetrate the patient's subconscious, directly curing them through dreams. One day, Tokita developed the system into a compact device with more outstanding features and called it DC Mini. However, the new device was not yet completed, it was stolen. And at this time, the incompleteness of DC Mini sparked a terrible nightmare that even its creator: Tokita Kousaku could never have imagined.

NOVEL WRITTEN ON PSYCHOLOGY

As a famous psychological fiction series by author Yasutaka Tsutsui, Dream Thief contains many elements and details that are almost fantastic, but in the end, the story is still based on the core point, the scientific nature of the psychological foundation: the psychoanalytic theory of which Sigmund Freud is the father. Therefore, in order to understand the novel Dream Thief in the deepest way, to understand the technical terms written by the author on the page, readers also need to have an overview of psychoanalysis. Because otherwise, readers will surely feel overwhelmed by a series of unfamiliar specialized concepts such as the unconscious level or psychological therapy by analyzing dreams or penetrating the patient's subconscious.

Psychoanalysis originated from the practice of psychological research, which can be defined as a method of studying and treating mental illness (Hysteria, Depression) with its father being the Austrian doctor and psychologist Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939). Later, psychoanalytic theory developed into many different research trends, but psychoanalysis can be divided into three main issues: personality structure theory, libido theory, the concept of repression and the path to releasing repression. With the theory of personality structure, Freud outlined the personality structure consisting of three basic parts: the stratification of the Id or also known as the Unconscious, the stratification of the Ego or also known as the Consciousness, the stratification of the Super Ego or also known as the Subconscious. And according to Freud, the main part of human psychology is hidden in the unconscious – the Id, while consciousness only accounts for a small part. Next is the theory of Libido or also known as human sexual desire. Finally, the concept of repression and the path to releasing repression, that human desires in life, especially Libido energy, require to be realized or released. But in reality, release is not always possible, so repression is born, and it is necessary to release it through different paths.

Once having a certain understanding and looking into the novel Dream Thief, readers will understand why Tokita and Atsuko can cure psychological illnesses in general, schizophrenia in particular, by penetrating the subconscious, analyzing the patient's dreams. And will not be too surprised by the endless ability and power of human dreams. The more perverted and twisted the dream is, the greater the libido, the more terrifying the dream becomes when it is realized.

Along with that, through Atsuko's treatment of Konakawa and Noda, The Dream Thief is also like a reenactment of the psychoanalytical treatment experiments that Freud had done in the past, but at a higher level: with the support of modern equipment. Therefore, psychologists can directly accompany patients in the unconscious, explore and decode dreams, thereby clarifying the hidden inhibitions they carry. The pain, torment, remorse... that people want to deny, find every way to push it into the deep unconscious by forgetting. But the truth is, the more they try to forget, the heavier the pain becomes, and in reality, people suffer more. In the long run, it gives rise to psychological illnesses

Therefore, solving "mental illness" is to clarify hidden inhibitions, evoke the past so that people can face it directly with all their courage and not run away. Therefore, although The Dream Thief is a fictional novel, the theory of psychoanalysis and the psychological treatment of people through decoding dreams at the unconscious level belongs to reality. Therefore, the plot of the story still ensures authenticity and science alongside fiction, fantasy, and fantasy. From there, the value of content and ideology is expanded, not simply the confrontation of interests between factions in a narrow community, but more importantly, the humanity of inventions, the conscience of doctors or the inhibitions of modern people... However, in the end, The Dream Thief is not a purely psychological book or an in-depth discussion of psychoanalytic theory. This is still a science fiction novel, so it is inevitable that there are fantastic and unrealistic elements. The further towards the end of the story, the more the psychotherapy sessions become too far from the original psychological roots, where the author mainly focuses on depicting the battle between dreams. Dreams overlap, the dream-reality line is blurred and the work becomes as magical as a fairy tale.

SPECIAL GROUP OF CHARACTERS IN THE NOVEL THE DREAM THIEF

Because of its distinctiveness and specific content, the novel The Dream Thief features a rather special group of characters: psychologists. Of course, many literary works have been written about the medical profession, even written by doctors themselves, but perhaps not many novels are actually written about psychologists, especially when the central character is a female psychologist like The Dream Thief.

With such a system of professionally specific characters, following The Dream Thief, before the theories of psychology in general, and psychoanalysis in particular, expressed by each character, has a certain persuasive power. From there, each individual seems to be truly living, conversing, and thinking in accordance with the profession they carry on the pages of the book.

Indeed, from Chiba Atsuko, the author evoked a female psychologist who was steadfast and steadfast in the treatment method that combined psychoanalytic theory with modern science and technology: “But that subconscious is that of a schizophrenic patient. That’s why we have to study how they connect siginifiant with signifie, right? As you said, the patient only speaks according to their own subconscious, so if we don’t look deeply into the patient’s subconscious, how can we know what their words really mean?”

Through Seijiro Inui's spite, Mr. Yasutaka Tsutsui successfully portrayed the image of a scientist who stubbornly clings to theory and conservative thinking: "As you just said, schizophrenic patients are also human beings, and the treatment method that penetrates the patient's subconscious mind and mind can be applied to ordinary people, from a medical point of view, it will certainly cause a lot of controversy. No matter how much Tokita asserts the effectiveness of the PT device, there has not been a single patient who has fully recovered thanks to this treatment. Without knowing clearly how effective it is, quickly moving on to developing a new device, isn't that too hasty?"

From there, the novel Dream Thief has quite successfully recreated the confrontation, conflict, and fierce contradiction in scientific views, interests, and consciousness between the two generations. On one side are young scientists, not only solid in theory but also enthusiastic, daring to do, daring to test scientific achievements in psychological experiments, on the other side are conservative scientists, old in age, both in theory and in practice far behind the young generation but have a voice, hold an important position. And once the conflict cannot be resolved by peaceful means, the inevitable thing that happens is mutual destruction without hesitation. As Seijiro Inui did. Seijiro Inui, a fanatical conservative, the academic ethics he raised were not to protect humanity but only to serve his own selfish personal interests. And the confrontation between his faction and Chiba Atsuko's group has long since become a generational transition between scientists of the classical conservative school and the generation of young people who do science combined with scientific experiments. In the battle that is both real and unreal, the roots that originate from science but are imbued with the fantasy of those two generations have opened up many layers of meaning, and at the same time, swept up a series of individuals who are out of line.

If Seijjiro Inui appears with all the evil and meanness, the image of Chiba Atsuko appears, besides the respect and sincere praise for a talented female doctor, as well as the voice for feminism of author Yasutaka Tsutsui. Because Atsuko, despite living with two identities, Atsuko - Paprika, in the end, she is still an intelligent, beautiful and independent woman in the face of countless storms. And because, that is also the ideal model of Japanese women, who until now have always been wavering between the two sides of tradition and modernity.

Besides, it is impossible not to mention the figure of Tokita Kousaku, Atsuko's colleague and partner as the embodiment of talented scientists who are "naive" to the point of pursuing invention and research, regardless of the risks ahead. Even Seijiro Inui himself, behind the criticism, still has the author's humanity when looking at an outdated scientist burdened with past failures, out of breath in reality...

And from those individual people like small slices taken from life, Mr. Yasutake Tsutsui has built before the reader's eyes a miniature Japanese society at the Institute of Psychiatry Research. A modern society, but are people really happy? Or are people under more pressure, always having to suppress their emotions, suppress their essential desires, unable to trust anyone. People always carry many faces but cannot be true to themselves. That is why, it seems that among the characters in The Dream Thief, without exception, everyone has to endure psychological trauma, which creates deep inhibitions in their souls. Regardless of doctors or civilians, regardless of therapists or patients. And when reflecting on the psychoanalytic theory of the psychological obstacles they suffer, the value of the psychoanalytic theory founded by Freud becomes more meaningful in modern life. In the context of the increasingly complex relationship between people and people, between people and society.

It can be said that the psychoanalytic theory is the basis for Mr. Yasutake Tsutsui to create the characters in The Dream Thief. And in turn, The Dream Thief is a concretization and affirmation of the psychoanalytic theory in real life and people.

Not a science fiction novel written in an easy, read-then-forget way, The Dream Thief is built on a solid psychological foundation with a deep philosophical depth, a profound reality about society and people. Although there are still some limitations in terms of plot, content development or excessive writing into the realm of fantasy, in the end, the novel The Dream Thief is still a work worth reading for those interested in psychological science fiction novels in general, and psychoanalytic theory in particular.