The Gadfly

The novel’s title refers to Socrates, who compared himself to a gadfly that torments a horse and forces it to act. And like the Greek wise man who chose death for his convictions, the main character of the novel remains faithful to the very ideas that inspired him in his youth. The author traces the hero’s transformation—from a naive, dreamy boy into a steadfast, brave, selfless revolutionary. The tragic process of losing his faith leads to terrible results: his life ends up maimed and brings no expected fruits.