# Fragment III explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Leonid Andreyev.

## What happens

A brief observation about the prevalence of madness in both armies, noting that four lunatic wards have been opened, as shown by the adjutant to the narrator.

## Themes in this chapter

### Madness and Rationality

The mention of madmen in both armies and the opening of lunatic wards highlights the theme of madness amidst war.

## Key lines

> They say there are a great number of madmen in our army as well as in the enemy’s. Four lunatic wards have been opened. When I was on the staff our adjutant showed me.

It is rumored that many soldiers on both sides have gone mad, leading to the establishment of four psychiatric wards, which the adjutant pointed out to me during my time on the staff.

_The narrator reports the widespread incidence of madness and the institutional response._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_34_se/chapters/part-i-fragment-iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_34_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_34_se/chapters