The Sandman Omnibus Vol. 1

The Endless encompass seven siblings who form the core of Sandman: Dream, Death, Desire, Despair, Destiny, Delirium, and Destruction. Of these, Dream is the protagonist with Death and Desire playing the most active supporting roles.

The siblings each represent a core foundation of the universe and the way human beings act and interact within it. Unlike gods, they do not need belief to sustain them; they exist independently of any one culture. Their relationship with humanity is a point of contention between the siblings. Dream tells Desire, “We of the Endless are the servants of the living—we are not their masters” (438). Desire disagrees: “Human beings are the creatures of desire. They twist and bend as I require it” (439). This opposing view has created a rivalry between Dream and Desire, with Desire in particular scheming to undermine Dream.

Dream is among the most removed from humanity, often slow to pick up on sarcasm and contemporary vernacular. He is quick to take offense and can hold grudges for millennia; this is seen in his treatment of Nada, his explosive anger at Hob, and even his displays of temper towards Death.