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Schizophrenia in Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman and Lu Xun’s A Madman’s Diary - Hektoen International

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Lu Xun’s 狂人日記 (A Madman’s Diary; 1918)1 was inspired by Nikolai Gogol’s Записки сумасшедшего, Zapiski sumasshedshevo (Diary of a Madman; 1835).2 Both works reveal crucial information about schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia, two psychiatric disorders that are often misdiagnosed3 but affect many people worldwide. In 2019 the World Health Organization estimated that twenty million people had a diagnosis of schizophrenia.4 There are few large-scale studies on the incidence and prevalence of schizoaffective disorder. Historical narratives may provide important clues about these psychiatric conditions. The stigma associated with mental illness varies across sociocultural settings. In countries like China and Russia, mental illness is often hidden from the general public and even the person’s family, as there are heavy feelings of shame and disgrace attached to those who are affected.5-9 An epidemiological survey conducted by Phillips et al in 20095 found that as many as 92% of indiv

Schizophrenia in Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman and Lu Xun’s A Madman’s Diary - Hektoen International Skip to content Schizophrenia in Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman and Lu Xun’s A Madman’s Diary Janet Ming Guo Atlanta, Georgia, United States Photograph of Lu Xun on 8 October 1936, 11 days before his death, attending the Second Woodcarving Exhibition in Baxianqiao, Shanghai. Photograph taken by Sha Fei. Circa 8 October 1936. Via Wikimedia. Lu Xun’s 狂人日記 ( A Madman’s Diary ; 1918) 1 was inspired by Nikolai Gogol’s Записки сумасшедшего, Zapiski sumasshedshevo ( Diary of a Madman ; 1835). 2

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