Fyodor Dostoyevsky Notes From Underground Analysis

In “Notes From Underground,” Fyodor Dostoyevsky explores the Underground Man’s rationalism, emotions, impulses, and conflicts. The nameless narrator introduces himself as a spiteful man that lives underground, but then admits he is not spiteful because he can only be nothing. He is beleaguered with a mindset that causes him to exaggerate insults until they are altered exceptionally beyond the original context. The Underground Man is unable to become a character and is consumed with inconsistency and contradictions. At twenty-four, he lived an isolated life and found himself envisioning instances in which he had been insulted and revenged. At a dinner party, he humiliated himself in front of old classmates and found pleasure in his own utter …show more content…
While the Underground Man finds pleasure in watching others suffer, part of his existence revolves around the fondness he receives in spiting himself thus leading to his pain and suffering. From social situations that cause his embarrassment, to disregarding health concerns for his joy, he is obsessed with harming himself and will not change his ways. He explains an instance where his liver hurts, but he finds gratification in his pain and refuses to get checked. “I am a sick man. . . . I am a spiteful man. I am an unattractive man. I think my liver is diseased. Then again, I don’t know a thing about my illness; I’m not even sure what hurts. I’m not being treated and never have been, though I respect both medicine and doctors. Besides, I’m extremely superstitious—well at least enough to respect medicine. (I’m sufficiently educated not to be superstitious, but I am, anyway.) No, gentlemen, it’s out of spite that I don’t wish to be treated. . . . My liver hurts? Good, let it hurt even more!” (Dostoyevsky 3). He doubts and contradicts himself so much that he questions whether his liver pain is real, thus illustrating his paradoxical ways. In this sense, the Underground Man represents qualities of a masochist. According to Dictionary.com, “Masochist: a person who has masochism, the condition in which sexual or other gratification depends on one’s suffering physical pain or …show more content…
Since he was young, reading isolated the Underground Man from others and hindered him from functioning in society. As he grew older, his obsession for literature expanded and he attempts to assimilate components of literature in his life such as challenging Ferfichkin to a duel. His expansive knowledge makes his relationships with others nearly impossible, as Liza finds it difficult to talk to him because he speaks like a book. Literature positively contributes to the Underground Man through writing as he can overcome forms of isolation he faces. Writing is the closest form of relationship he builds, as he holds conversations with his imaginary audience. He makes up what the readers would respond in order to continue his writing. Writing and reading is a form of solitude for the Underground Man, as he is always writing, reading, or thinking about literature. Both aspects provide him a break from the nihilistic life he lives. He is aware that writing and literature cannot be challenged or changed, especially as he implements it in his life. Since he believes his life is fixed, writing gives him relief to tell his