Abstract: As a Gothic work, E.T.A. Hoffmann’s “The Sandman” creates a dark, gloomy atmosphere through episodic trips into the dark depths of Nathanael’s disturbed psyche and frequent visits from the frightening Coppelius or Coppola, otherwise identified by Nathanael as the Sandman. As a Romantic work, “The Sandman” reflects the creative, often chaotic, mind of the artist and echoes the prominent, often intrusive, voice of the author. However, “The Sandman” also resembles a contemporary text that presents filtered images while exploring the dark depths of a human psyche. In its attempt at tracing the formation of a complex, the text sheds light on the conflict between vision and illusion, inner vision and outer vision.