Diary of a Madman at Russian Arts Theater and Studio

Diary of a Madman, considered Gogol's best short story, is a first-person narrative presented in the form of a diary. It is the tale of Aksenty Ivanovich Poprishchin, a lowly government clerk who gradually descends into madness. At the beginning the Poprischin records his frustrations and humiliations, rationalizing various attacks to his dignity. Over time, however, reason gives way to delusion and his schizophrenic mumblings spin out of control. Through numerous journal entries, Poprishchin leads us through the corridors of his topsy-turvy world, from his hateful job and crush on his employer's daughter, to his encounters with letter-writing dogs, to the torments he undergoes at the hands of the Spanish "Inquisitor."