Nuala O'Faolain's "My Dream of You" reflects on the theme of contrast between appearances and reality. The author reminisces about a time in her youth when she learned to discern the hidden struggles that often lie beneath gentle façades. This experience has shaped her understanding of the world and its complexities.

The setting of the upland pass serves as a poignant backdrop for this introspection, symbolizing a place of clarity and memory. O'Faolain's writing encourages readers to look beyond the surface, suggesting that what seems soft and inviting may conceal deeper challenges and truths.