A funny man's dream

Author's name: Dostoevsky

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is a short story written by Fyodor Dostoevsky in 1877. It recounts the experiences of a man who decides that nothing in the world has any value and therefore resolves to commit suicide. By chance, he encounters a young girl who asks for his help, but he rejects her and goes home to fall into a deep sleep. The man then begins his dream and a journey in which he cultivates love for his fellow human beings.

The story begins with the narrator wandering the streets of St. Petersburg. He reflects on how he has always been a laughingstock, and also, recently, has realized that he is no longer interested in anything in this life. This realization leads him to contemplate suicide. The narrator reveals that he bought a pistol months ago with the intention of shooting himself in the head. Although it is a gloomy night, the narrator looks up at the sky and sees a solitary star. Shortly after seeing the star, a little girl runs towards him. The narrator suspects something is wrong with the girl's mother. He shakes the girl away and goes to his apartment, where he falls into a deep sleep. In his dream, he encounters many truths and questions, especially those concerning humanity, particularly his intention to commit suicide and escape from this bleak and pathetic world, as he puts it.