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Esther’s　grandmother　had　emigrated；　it　seems　dreams　were　used　as　an　excuse

to prove heretics met with the Devil and made love。 For example； even if

Esther’s forebears denied their Jewishness by declaring； “We’ve bee

Catholics like you；” the Jesuit torturers of the Portuguese Church；

unconvinced； would torture them； forcing them to describe the jinns and

demons of their dreams； as well as burdening them with dreams they never

had。 Then they’d force the Jews to confess these dreams so in the end they

could　burn　them　at　the　stake。　In　this　way；　dreams　could　be　manipulated　over

there；　to　show　that　people　were　having　sex　with　the　Devil　and　to　accuse　and

condemn　Jews。

Dreams　are　good　for　three　things：

ALIF：

You want something but you just can’t ask for it。 So you’ll say that

you’ve　dreamed　about　it。　In　this　manner；　you　can　ask　for　what　you　want

without　actually　asking　for　it。

156

The dreams we recount are never the ones we actually see in our sleep。

When people say they’ve “seen it；” they simply describe the dream that is

“dreamed”　during　the　day；　and　there’s　always　an　underlying　purpose。　Only　an

idiot　would　describe　his　actual　nighttime　dreams　exactly　as　he’s　had　them。　If

you　do；　everyone　will　make　fun　of　you　or；　as　always；　interpret　the　dream　as　a

bad omen。 No one takes real dreams seriously； including those who dream

them。　Or；　pray　tell；　do　you？

Through　a　dream　that　I　half…heartedly　recounted；　I　hinted　that　my　husband

might truly be dead。 Though my father at first wouldn’t