12016-12-06T18:12:50-08:00Elizabeth Withers4c83cfe2d791828249eb6cc21e5e14580fecf72e130082plain2016-12-14T17:10:26-08:00Elizabeth Withers4c83cfe2d791828249eb6cc21e5e14580fecf72eThe closing scene of this episode shows Marge and Homer in the therapist's office, and Marge decides to stay with Homer. Thus, the dream contains the daily residue of Marge's uncertainty about her marriage and her frequent trips with Homer to the marriage counselor. Marge dreams much of this dream through Homer's point of view, thus fulfilling her wishes that Homer be miserable without her and repressing this desire by displacing her own feelings onto Homer. She experiences anxiety as she continues to imagine Homer miserable, and this guilt manifests in Homer's affair with the young girl. However, this ultimately only debases Homer further, and Marge asserts dominance over Homer by dating the girl's father. This may also be a condensation of her own repressed desires for her father's affection. One can also find traces of Marge's own feelings and reasoning in things that Homer's young girlfriend says-- namely, that it is a good thing that Marge and Homer are splitting up because they met too young and never got a chance to explore. Marge's wish that Homer behave like a good husband is overpowered by her desire to leave him, as is shown by the secondary revision of the dream jumps. Lisa's attachment to Homer also demonstrates Marge's repressed desires and fears. After Lisa states that she will never give up on Homer because he will take her side against Marge, Marge dreams that the new father figure separates Lisa from Homer. This shows Marge's jealousy of Lisa and desire to come between them, although these feelings are at odds with what she knows is best for the family she cares about. Homer's narcolepsy, drug use, and destructive behavior, can all be interpreted as distortions of Marge's desire to get rid of Homer. However, once Homer is left powerless in the dream, Marge is able to reconcile her feelings against him and decides to stay. conclusions