"The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" by Fyodor Dostoevsky |
What one first realizes when they read this short novel by this huge writer is the social and critical approach it has to society. A dream of a ridiculous person.. and why ridiculous?
Because they dare to dream of a different world, or perhaps more sharply said the world before we destroyed it. This dream would appear almost religiously challenging to the many, yet irrational to others. Of course right at this point many will come up and stand against this conclusion with the argument of " why should I read just another book on society issues?". And I would definitely have formed the same impression if someone had just recommended this book to me and described me the plot. Well, the thing here is about how you approach the text. I believe that in the case of this short novel by Dostoevsky, we shall not be entangled in the trap of examining the text with mere literary criteria but with sentimental criteria. That is, we should avoid sticking to the message of the book and just let ourselves embark on this infinite idealism of a society that has died before it was born. This feeling, along with the sad nostalgia that the work invokes has created a mixed feeling to me ; On the one hand the feeling that we have lost , on the other the chance that we can start all over again. I believe that the real question behind Dostoevsky's words is: to what extent is this ridiculous dream real? And if we can't help but accept its tragic reality, do we want to wake up and take action or do we want to keep dreaming? |