‘Notes from the Underground’ is a novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1864. It’s considered one of the earliest existentialist works in literature and a seminal text in Russian literature. The novella is divided into two parts: the first part consists of the narrator’s rambling, embittered, and self-deprecating thoughts, while the second part recounts an event from the narrator’s past.
The unnamed narrator, often referred to as the Underground Man, is a retired civil servant living in St. Petersburg. He is disillusioned with society and rejects its norms and conventions, preferring instead to live in isolation and spitefulness. Throughout the novella, the Underground Man reflects on his own alienation, his inability to connect with others, and his resentment towards authority and rationality.
Dostoevsky’s work delves deeply into themes such as free will, existential angst, and the nature of consciousness. The Underground Man’s contradictory and self-destructive behavior serves as a critique of utilitarianism and rationalism, as well as a commentary on the human condition.
‘Notes from the Underground’ is celebrated for its psychological depth, its exploration of existential themes, and its innovative narrative style. It has had a profound influence on existentialist philosophy and continues to be studied and analyzed for its complex portrayal of the individual’s struggle for meaning and identity in a world devoid of absolutes.
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