The novel Dream in the Garden and the opera Peony Pavilion are both classics of Chinese literature, but their theme and form of expression are very different. The theme of the novel Garden Dream was about the conflict and transformation between dream and reality, soul and body. Through the protagonist's experience, the novel described the dream world he encountered in the garden and the emotional entanglements and conflicts between him and various characters in this world. The novel mainly described the protagonist's adventures and explorations in the dream, as well as his experiences and emotions in the dream. The theme of the opera, Peony Pavilion, was love and marriage. It was about the love story of a young woman in the Peony Pavilion. The performance of the opera Peony Pavilion is a traditional opera with strong local characteristics and cultural content. The song, dance, and performance are all very important elements in opera. They show the charm and characteristics of opera through music, dance, and performance. Therefore, although the novel Garden Dream and the opera Peony Pavilion were both classics of Chinese literature, their theme and form of expression were very different. The novel mainly narrated the adventures and explorations of the protagonist in the dream world, while the opera showed the rich local characteristics and cultural implications through the performance of traditional love stories.