Examining the Dream of a Ridiculous Man through the Lens of Freudian Psychoanalysis

Abstract

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (1877) profoundly explores themes of alienation, existential despair, and spiritual transformation through the dream vision of a morally despondent protagonist. This paper applies Freudian psychoanalysis to the narrative, revealing how the novella’s dream sequence manifests unconscious conflicts, the interplay between the id, ego, and superego, and the dynamics of repression and wish-fulfillment. Through close textual analysis, supported by a wide array of psychoanalytic and Dostoevsky criticism, the paper also examines the limits of the Freudian model and values complementary perspectives. This work aims to provide fresh insight into Dostoevsky’s psychological vision and the interpretive relevance of psychoanalysis to literature.