The Dark by Leonid Andreyev (1903)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after years abroad and becomes obsessed with the idea of death. He begins to see death as a liberator from the monotony and superficiality of life, and starts to contemplate taking his own life. As he delves deeper into this obsession, he becomes increasingly isolated from society and his relationships with others begin to deteriorate. His fixation on death is not driven by any specific emotional or psychological trauma, but rather by a philosophical desire to transcend the limitations of human existence. The narrative explores themes of existentialism, nihilism, and the search for meaning in life. The protagonist's inner turmoil and descent into madness serve as a commentary on the absurdity and futility of human existence.
By Leonid Andreyev · First published 1903 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Symbolism, Drama · 5 chapters · 22,806 words
First lines
As a rule success had accompanied him in all his undertakings, but during the last three days complications had arisen which were unfavourable, not to say critical. His life, though a short one, had long been a game of terrible hazards; he was accustomed to these sudden turns of chance and could deal with them; the stake had before been life itself, his own and others', and this by itself had taught him alertness, swiftness of thought, and a cold hard outlook.
What this Textopian page supports
The Dark is listed on Textopian as a novel by Leonid Andreyev, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Leonid Andreyev
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Psychological Fiction, Symbolism, Drama, Gothic Fiction, Philosophical Fiction
- Length: 22,806 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 630 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Dark by Leonid Andreyev
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Dark?
- How does this novel by Leonid Andreyev fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Psychological Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Lie by Leonid Andreyev
- The Giant by Leonid Andreyev
- The Wall by Leonid Andreyev
- The Uniter Of Souls by Fyodor Sologub
- A Dilemma by Leonid Andreyev
- Lazarus by Leonid Andreyev
Genres
- Psychological Fiction — The exploration of the human psyche and existential themes is central to the narrative.
- Symbolism — The use of symbols to convey deeper meanings and themes is prevalent throughout the text.
- Drama — Intense emotional conflicts and character interactions drive the plot.
- Gothic Fiction — Elements of darkness, despair, and the supernatural contribute to the overall atmosphere.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Psychological Drama · Existentialism · Absurdism · Russian Literature · 20th Century Literature · Short Story Collection · Dark Fantasy · Supernatural Elements · Mystery and Suspense · Gothic Atmosphere · Symbolism