The “madman” is the central character of the story, through whose eyes the reader sees events. The “madman” is a minor government administrator appointed to a small village. In traditional Chinese government, these bureaucrats represented the central government and acted with significant authority in their jurisdictions. A common archetype in Chinese history and literature is the corrupt government official who exploits the local population for personal gain. The “madman” admits that he too participated in the exploitation of one villager, Mr. Gu, but that this transgression was long ago.

The story follows the “madman’s” diary entries as his mental health apparently deteriorates. He perceives hostility and conspiracy all around him from the villagers, the doctor, the Zhao family dog, and even his own brother. Lu Xun is ambiguous about the trustworthiness of the “madman’s” observations—his elder brother and the anonymous narrator from the introduction both dismiss his writings as paranoid and delusional. Despite his apparent delusions, the “madman” strives for a better future. He repeatedly reflects on the exploitative nature of Chinese society and history through the motif of cannibalism.