In her work Dreamspeaker, Anne Cameron writes the story, set in 1976 in British Columbia, of a young boy named Peter, who runs away an institution for boys in difficulty and delinquents. . Peter embarks on a crazy adventure and ends up befriending two indigenous men. Together, they form an unbreakable bond of spiritual magic and, above all, friendship. Cameron uses symbols to emphasize the central theme of the book, freedom and oppression. Throughout the book, spiritual symbols appear to illustrate the theme of freedom, such as the Sisiutl, the Stlalacum, and the magic bag. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The first symbol discussed follows Peter everywhere from the beginning of the book; he is only given a name when he meets the old man, who we later learn is the Dreamspeaker. The Sisiutl is an ancient Nootka legend about a monstrous snake-like being that preys on those unfortunate enough to cross its path. In this novel, the Sisiutl plays an important role because he embodies Peter's fears and pursues him throughout his life. For this reason, Peter became the slave of Sisiutl, and therefore the slave of his own fear. The Sisiutl symbolizes and embodies the fear that accompanies Pierre throughout his life. This fear has corrupted Peter because he is always afraid of himself and his surroundings; he never feels safe. This can be seen as an act of oppression against Pierre as the Sisiutl causes him severe mental distress and pressure. But on the other hand, it can be considered an act of freedom. In the end, Peter confronts the Sisiutl and causes him to "turn in on himself". Unfortunately, this relief from the fear of the Sisiutl did not last long because unfortunately, to be truly free, Peter had to commit suicide and die to escape the fear brought on by his past. A second symbol that plays an important role in the book is the Stlalacum. Unlike the Sisiutl, the Stlalacum is the symbolization of truth and goodness. In the novel, the Stlalacum takes the form of dancing orbs of light, almost like fireflies. Often throughout the story, these lights warn Peter that the Sisiutl is near and is coming for Peter. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The central theme of freedom in this book is personified by the Stlalacum and its symbolism of truth. In the end, it is the truth that ultimately frees Peter from the Sisiutl. Throughout the novel, Peter has learned that to be free, he must face the truth; the Stlalacum helped him do this, they "came to him, reminding him that all the truth you need lies deep in your own eyes.”.