Notes from Underground is a highly acclaimed novel written by one of the greatest novelists Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky is distinguished for weaving philosophical and theological threads in his brilliant narratives and the same is reflected in his novel notes from underground which was written in the year, 1864. Notes from underground is regarded as first existentialist novel. The author portrays a dreadful individual who deceive himself knowingly or un knowingly. The novel is divided in two parts; first part of the novel is told as monologue and is in the form of a diary which belongs to an underground man. This paper discusses the notes from underground and further discusses several related aspects of the novel.
Chapter one of the novel is moreover about the character of the underground man. It is not difficult to learn that this character as portrayed by the author is completely pessimistic person. His character is occupied by contradictions and confusions. He does not feel well and he knows it that what problem he is suffering but even then he does not prefer to visiting a doctor. He says that all the problems and sufferings did not let him be a corrupt man during service period. Underground Man at the beginning of the novel introduces himself as ailing and ugly. He further says that he is suffering with the problem of his liver but refuses to avail any kind of treatment. The underground man has been presented as a weird man he says “It was not only that I could not become spiteful, I did not know how to become anything; neither spiteful nor kind, neither a rascal nor an honest man, neither a hero nor an insect. Now, I am living out my life in my corner, taunting myself with the spiteful and useless consolation that an intelligent man cannot become anything seriously, and it is only the fool who becomes anything. Yes, a man in the nineteenth century must and morally ought to be pre-eminently a characterless creature; a man of character, an active man is pre-eminently a limited creature” (Dostoevsky 6).
When the underground man talks about ‘the intelligent man’ his intention is to assume a man who is like himself in the nature. He is a hyper-conscious person and such person can not be sure what does he want and for this reason he doesn't feel very at ease while taking actions on any issue. He wants to say that if a person can not act, he can not do anything and he can not be whatever he wants to be. The narrator says that he has suffered a lot when he was in service but this has enabled him in not taking bribes. By accounts given by the underground man readers come to know that he was retired from his job before the time of retirement and in lieu of this he got a good sum of money. He never wanted to hold any post which carried a lot of responsibilities. He only desired to hold a low profile job not because he could not have handled it but just because he never wanted to hold the responsibility himself.
The underground man is a sheer isolated person. He does not like to be socialized and has developed own different style of viewing others. It is not that easy to understand that the narrator speaks the truth or not. He often talks dual which becomes difficult to understand for others. He at one place says that "Possibly," you will add on your own account with a grin, "people will not understand it either who have never received a slap in the face," and in that way you will politely hint to me that I, too, perhaps, have had the experience of a slap in the face in my life, and so I speak as one who knows. I bet that you are thinking that. But set your minds at rest, gentlemen, I have not received a slap in the face” (Dostoevsky 20).
After having observed the above mentioned analysis, it becomes clear that the underground man is a very hateful kind of person. He is underground for a long time probably twenty years. This is the reason of the weirdness that is reflecting in his behavior. Underground Man makes public About him, he reveals that his age is forty years and lives in St. Petersburg city of Russia.
Another thing to observe is the test of this underground man. He says that suffering is enjoyable and this is the reason why he does not prefer to go to the doctor even if he is suffering from a number of problems. He says that suffering is connected with the free will and also with the natural laws. He predicts a number of things related to the nature in his imaginations. He suggests that the man will have to stop playing with the natural laws in order to prevent the calamities to take place else he will have to suffer the consequences.
This character also shares his memory when he was young and reveals so many things about him. He says that the kind of romanticism is visible in the Russia is rare and not found easily in other countries. He also talks about his likes and dislikes of his young age. He shares that how he disliked going out with the men however he says that he used to like going out with beautiful people especially females. He also reveals that he also used to prostitutes with his friends. He slept and had sex with the prostitute but after that he suggests the prostitute that she should quit this profession and get out of it. He suggested the prostitute that this behavior is not commendable. Though after lecturing the prostitute he again express his wish to meet her and gives his address to the prostitute. He further share that they again met and had sex. He says that when he met the prostitute he could not stop himself from crying as he became very emotional. After having sex he gives some money into her hands with the intention to insulting her. She leaves and he tries to stop her but she disappears and they never met again ever
The novelist is known for this kind of writings though it is not very easy for every reader to understand all the things. The kind of entwining we see in the novel is rare yet full of massages. The author uses philosophical, psychological and sociological descriptions in his writings. The novel is for special readers who have patience and time also.
Work Cited
Dostoevsky, Fyodor Mikhailovich. Notes from the Underground. Unites States: Plain Label Books, 2008.
