The novel revolves around a man from the future whose brief afternoon nap is vividly tinged with the dream he has of a man from the past. Utopian in its entirety, the book touches upon various topics like ridiculing Victorian morals and beliefs, expressing optimism towards the future, and unquestioning trust in progress as the most important feature there is. "The Dream" reads as a dream that goes both ways – towards the future and the past alike, painting a satirical picture of mankind's absurdity and naïve optimism.