Duty and guilt are opposite sides of the same coin in a spiritual sense. Duty can be a liability and therefore a trap, and guilt can prevent us from seeing a way forward. When we feel trapped either by duty or guilt we will dream of a prison. Often we create a 'prison' for ourselves through a sense of duty or guilt and this can often be shown in dreams. The types of locks and bolts we perceive in our prison may show us how we are imprisoning ourselves. For example, a lock with a key would suggest that we know how to escape, whereas a bolt shows that we have to make a greater effort. A barred window would suggest that we are being prevented from using that which is external to us. We may feel that outside circumstances are making life difficult, but in actual fact we are creating those circumstances ourselves. This can be on an emotional, material or spiritual level and is translated into the dream image of a prison. Also consult the entries for Bolt, Key and Lock.