Diary of a Madman

Interesting Facts

• The work is written in the form of a diary, allowing a deeper dive into the thoughts and experiences of the main character.
• The main character, Aksenty Ivanovich Poprishchin, gradually loses touch with reality, which is reflected in his entries.
• The novella features a satirical depiction of the bureaucratic system of the Russian Empire.
• One of the key moments is the protagonist's conviction that he is the Spanish King Ferdinand VIII.
• The work is one of the first in Russian literature to depict a character's mental disorder.
• Gogol uses elements of grotesque and absurdity to highlight the tragedy and comedy of the situation.
• The work ends tragically, emphasizing the hopelessness of the protagonist's situation.