Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Professional, Conversational, Occasionally Intimate
While it's true that Freud's writing throughout The Interpretations of Dreams is suited to an audience of highly trained professionals, Freud does his best to balance his medical terminology and scientific models with conversational, witty, and surprisingly descriptive language. This gives a certain lightness and conversational quality to a book that might otherwise have been lifeless and dull.
For every dry passage that appears throughout the book, you'll find another where Freud's personal stories, intimate revelations, and intense love of wordplay give a whole new face to your reading experience.