Notes from Underground

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“Notes from Underground" is a novel written by Fyodor Dostoevsky and published in 1864. It is divided into two parts: the first is a monologue by an unnamed narrator, and the second is a short story narrated by the same character.

Part one is a first-person narrative told by a bitter, isolated, and self-loathing man, who is referred to as the Underground Man. He has retired early and lives alone in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Underground Man is a misanthrope who hates society and all of its conventions, particularly the notion of rationality and the Enlightenment ideals of progress and reason. He sees himself as superior to his fellow man, but at the same time is deeply insecure and self-conscious.

The Underground Man reflects on his life and his relationships with others, including an encounter with a woman named Liza. He is unable to form meaningful connections with others due to his own insecurities and his belief that human nature is inherently irrational and unpredictable. He also struggles with the idea of free will, seeing it as an illusion that only leads to suffering.

In part two, the Underground Man recounts an incident from his past where he deliberately ruined a relationship with a former schoolmate, Zverkov, out of spite and a desire to assert his own superiority. The story illustrates the Underground Man's belief that humans are inherently irrational and self-destructive, and that attempts to impose rationality and order on society are doomed to fail.

Overall, "Notes from Underground" is a complex and introspective exploration of the human condition, examining themes such as free will, the nature of consciousness, and the role of the individual in society. It is considered a masterpiece of Russian literature and a seminal work of existentialist philosophy.