Chapter 23 madman

In the garden of the lunatic asylum, I met a young man with a pale, beautiful face, but full of surprise. I sat next to him on the bench, and I said, "Why are you here?" He looked at me in surprise, and said, "That's an impolite question, but I'll answer you anyway. My father wants I became just like him, and my uncle expected me to be like him. My mother wanted me to be like her famous father. My sister thought her seafaring husband was a perfect example, and wanted me to follow his example. ...my brother thinks I should be an athlete like him. My teachers, too, were determined that I should be a doctor of philosophy, a master of music, and a logician. Each one wanted me to be the reflection of his countenance in the mirror.

"That's why I've come to this place. I think the madhouse is more sane here. At least, I can be myself." Then the young man suddenly turned to me and asked: "But tell me, are you also driven to the madhouse by education and kind advice?" I replied: "No, I am a visitor. " The young man said, "Oh, there are people who live in the madhouse on the other side of the wall, and you are one of them." The Madman It was in the garden of a madhouse that I met a youth with a face pale and lovely and full of wonder. And I sat beside him upon the bench, and I said, "Why are you here?"

And he looked at me in astonishment, and he said, "It is an unseemly question, yet I will answer you. My father would make of me a reproduction of himself; so also would my uncle. My mother would have me the image of her seafaring husband as the perfect example for me to follow. My brother thinks I should be like him, a fine athlete. "And my teachers also, the doctor of philosophy, and the music-master, and the logician, they too were determined, and each would have me but a reflection of his own face in a mirror. "Therefore I came to this place. I find it more sane here. At least, I can be myself."

Then of a sudden he turned to me and he said, "But tell me, were you also driven to this place by education and good counsel?" And I answered, "No, I am a visitor." And he answered, "Oh, you are one of those who live in the madhouse on the other side of the wall."