Crazy person's defense speech

Author: (Swedish) Strindberg
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The Defense of the Madman is a semi-autobiographical confessional novel, considered one of the most moving and authentic works in the genre of marriage novels. Strindberg even stated in the preface that The Defense of the Madman was different from his other works—it was not only a modern psychological analysis novel but also a biography that dissected the private aspects of his marital history. The story is narrated in the first-person perspective, focusing on the painful process of falling in love and ultimately breaking up with his wife, Siri von Ehren. It portrays the deep psychology of numerous characters. The powerful impact created by the natural and skillful integration of reality and the inner world highlights Strindberg's creative artistry. When writing this novel, Strindberg said, "I felt as if I were walking in a dream—I couldn't distinguish between creation and life; when I was about to wake up, I would either fall into the pit of madness caused by a guilty conscience or consider suicide."