Meet New Books
Meet New Books
Book Cover

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man

Save:
Find on Amazon

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a short story that delves into themes of self-reflection, existential crisis, and redemption. The protagonist grapples with nihilistic thoughts and contemplates suicide, only to have a transformative dream that leads him to a utopian society where he experiences profound love and connection with others. Dostoyevsky's writing style in this story is described as psychologically realistic, deeply human, and prefiguring concepts like psychoanalysis and solipsism, making it a moving and thought-provoking read.

Characters:

The main character is flawed and self-aware, embodying a range of complex emotional experiences.

Writing/Prose:

The writing exhibits rich psychological depth, poetic language, and significant philosophical undertones.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative is intensely compact, unfolding in a single evening and exploring deep themes like nihilism and self-discovery.

Setting:

The setting is a dark urban landscape that mirrors the inner turmoil of the protagonist.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, efficiently transitioning from despair to profound introspection.
I learned, the more thoroughly I understood that I was ridiculous. So that it seemed in the end as though all the sciences I studied at the university existed only to prove and make evident to me as I...

Notes:

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is a short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky that explores themes of nihilism and self-reflection.
Dostoevsky's novella is only about twenty pages long, making it a quick yet impactful read.
The protagonist, known as the ridiculous man, grapples with feelings of despair and contemplates suicide.
The story contrasts the darkness of the protagonist's thoughts with moments of beauty and connection in his dreams.
The narrative uses hallucinogenic imagery, resonating with the idea of dreams being reflections of the subconscious.
Dostoevsky's work is praised for psychological depth, often likened to modern concepts like psychoanalysis.
The story's events are surreal and symbolic, blurring the line between reality and imagination.
The ridiculous man's journey leads him to a vision of an ideal society, emphasizing themes of love and community.
The issues tackled in the story—alienation and Christian charity—are central to Dostoevsky's broader literary concerns.
This short story is often recommended for those new to Dostoevsky's work due to its accessibility and depth.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The narrative discusses heavy themes such as suicide and nihilism, which may be triggering for some readers.

From The Publisher:

While contemplating his life and deeming himself ridiculous, a man on the verge of suicide is interrupted by a young girl begging for his help. In his dark mood, he brushes her away, but when he returns home to commit the act he cannot move past his feelings of guilt over his treatment of the girl.

"The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" was adapted into a 1990 BBC production entitled The Dream starring Jeremy Irons.

HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

Ratings (4)

Incredible (2)
Liked It (2)

Reader Stats (10):

Read It (5)
Want To Read (5)
 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.