Hostages
To dream that you are a hostage represents feelings about being trapped, limited, or powerless. Feelings of being a hostage of circumstances. Feeling forced to go along with other people wishes. You might also feel trapped by your own beliefs. Feeling victimized, powerless, or limited in your choices. Physical immobilization. Aspects of your personality that feel powerless to escape. Feeling that you have to give in to the demands of others. You may feel that you have to give in to the demands of others or sacrifice your own needs for the sake of other people. A dream of hostages may suggest a need to assess power dynamics and to take control of one's own life.
Positively, dreaming about hostages may reflect your ability to endure or maintain control over a difficult situation.
Negatively, dreaming about hostages may reflect feelings of being held back or trapped in a situation such as relationship, job, or other aspect of your life. Feelings of being held captive by fear, guilt, or obligation.
To dream of other people as hostages may reflect a part of yourself that is unable to be fully expressed.
To dream of taking hostages may reflect your desperation to assert yourself or force compromise. Curtailing someone else's wishes or happiness until your own wants are addressed.
Example: A woman dreamed of being held hostage and raped. In waking life she was practicing Lent sacrificing things and working on her temper. In this case the hostage symbolism may have reflected her feelings about feeling forced to go along with Lent practices while other people didn't. She may have felt it was unbearable to have to give up anything she liked for Lent.
Example 2: A man dreamed of being held hostage by the police. In waking life he was experiences lifestyle changes. In this case the hostage symbolism may have reflected his feelings about disliking his lifestyle changes which began to make him feel trapped by his circumstances keeping them.
