“The Sandman” (1917) is a short story originally written in German. It deals with the legend of the Sandman, who is said to throw sand in the eyes of children to help them fall asleep.
The protagonist is a young man by the name Nathanael. When he was young, he experienced a traumatic event that involved the Sandman. However, it is never clearly stated if the event actually took place or is a figment of his imagination. Still, he suffers from post traumatic stress that adds another layer to the story. What finally pushes Nathanael over the edge, I will not disclose.
Personally, I find the story both scary and disturbing. Coppelius could easily haunt a kid’s nightmares and i don’t blame Nathanael for being freaked out. His obsession with the man however might be taking it a step too far.
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