The Error of Thinking that the Picture of Actual Dreams can be Used in only one Way

In 1914, the Spanish novelist, dramatist, poet and philosopher
Miguel de Unamuno published one of his well-known
works, Niebla. Unamuno allows that his characters speak
and speak although they say nothing at all: in this way the
author begins believing he takes his characters by the
hand, but in the end becomes his characters´ fiction. And
not only does Unamuno give free rein to his characters´
dialogues but describes thoughts and feelings in great
detail too; as a matter of fact, he uses expressions of the
kind of (Unamuno 1996, 180) "si Augusto hubiera podido
leer en el espíritu de Rosario� (`if Augusto could have read
in Rosario´s spirit´), or (ib, 204) "¡Oh, si pudiesen verme
por dentro, Víctor, te aseguro que no dirían tal cosa!� (`Oh
Victor, if they could see inside me, I am sure they would
not say such a thing!´). Up to this point there is nothing
special about Niebla, but before committing suicide,
Augusto decides to consult Unamuno: that is, the main
character has a meeting with the author. But as soon as
Augusto begins to tell his life and misfortune, Unamuno
invites his character to save himself such a work because
"de las vicisitudes de su vida sabía yo tanto como él� (`I
[Unamuno] knew the ups and downs of his life as well as
Augusto himself´). Unamuno proves his words quoting
Augusto´s secrets; so the character, absolutely terrified,
trembling and as if he were in front of an unbelievable
being, murmurs: "puesto que usted parece saber sobre mí
tanto como sé yo mismo, acaso adivine mi propósito�
(`since you seem to know about my life as much as I do
know, maybe you should guess my intention´).