Diary of a Madman

Style and Technique

«Diary of a Madman» by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is written in the genre of psychological prose with elements of satire and grotesque. The narrative is conducted in the first person in the form of diary entries, allowing a deeper immersion into the inner world of the main character, Aksenty Ivanovich Poprishchin. The language of the work is rich with emotional and expressive expressions, reflecting the unstable mental state of the protagonist. Gogol employs techniques of internal monologue and stream of consciousness to convey Poprishchin's chaotic and disordered thoughts. The structure of the story is fragmented and nonlinear, emphasizing the protagonist's gradual descent into madness. The author skillfully uses irony and sarcasm to critique social orders and bureaucracy, as well as to create a contrast between the protagonist's reality and illusions.