The Dream of A Ridiculous Man

Introduction

This short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky is philosphical fiction and falls under the category of psychological insight into a man's inner journey into another world. The story deals with the existential crisis of modern man, which can be generalised into as many cultures as possible. It can also be called a morality tale. 

Plot Summary

On that dismal evening, he had intended to commit suicide by shooting himself. That night the narrator embarks upon an inner journey via a dream, which makes him conscious and beholds the truth.

On that inner journey, he beholds a new world that is unstained by sin, such as men's world before the original sin. After that, the narrator tells us about that new earth and its residents. The tale is quite fascinating and interesting.

Themes and Symbolism

The story is a psychological insight into human nature narrated by an unnamed/unknown narrator who is a nihilist. Nihilism is a philosophical idea that upholds that nothing in this world does matter. Nor any thing related with the world. Be it relations, feelings, ideologies, etc. The narrator claims to have known the truth one year ago with a chance encounter with a young girl. Being a nihilist, he is supposed to feel indifference towards the pleading girl; he tries too, but he cannot. 

First written in 1877, only four years before his death, Dostoevsky seems to have put maximum experience of his life in this philosophical fiction. As usual, the author has beautifully stated the idea of nihilism and their sub-ideas later on to oppose them at the full. Dostoevsky is an artist of great value. His miserable life taught him many lessons, and he expressed all those lessons in his writings in different ways. In this story, he has shown and opposed the idea of nihilism by portraying an analogy of this world and another world, and through this analogy, he has shown how absurd the ideas of indifference based on nihilism. The story touches on both ideas of absurdism and existentialism as well. It is about redemption, personal growth, and spiritual awakening written in a symbolic way. 

This story holds an important place in 19th-century Russian literature based on sumbolism. The story is an allegory of redemption and salvation, human nature and morality, and a psychological exploration of self. 

Conclusion

In this story, Dostoevsky has once again emphasised on man's meaning for life and man's inner beauty of goodness and virtue. And he asserts humanity in man's character no matter what may hinder him. And indeed, this is the beauty of humankind. It is a very nice allegory and social commentary. 

Select Quotations

1. “Oh, how hard it is to be the only man to know the truth!”

1. “The consciousness of life is higher than life. The knowledge of happiness is higher than happiness"—that is what we have to fight against.

Dostoevsky, you are immortal.