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Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Diary of a Madman, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Social Class and Status
Writing, Escapism, and Fantasy
Insanity
Isolation
Summary
Analysis
Poprishchin describes how the grand inquisitor visited him. Poprishchin hid “under a chair,” and his visitor calls him by multiple names including King Ferdinand, to get him to come out. Eventually, the inquisitor finds him, and chases him with a stick.
The “grand inquisitor,” who is really a staff member at the asylum, is aware of Poprishchin’s specific delusions and taunts him. He calls Poprishchin by the name of his made-up alter ego in an attempt to goad him, and then beats Poprishchin. Poprishchin, whose alienation from society is already complete, seems to be singled out especially for poor treatment.
Themes
