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A review by euthalia
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
This book explores the inner workings of human psyche, how anxiety, fear and depression get hold of us. The first part introduces us to the inner conscious conflicts the underground man suffers. The constant paradoxical nature of his despairs claiming on one side to be superior than other humans in terms of heightened consciousness and intelligence and on the other hand draining oneself with self pity and hatred for thinking oneself above all. His desperations and wanting to be humiliated, at the same time wanting respect arise a sense of hostility that he suffers from the world. He suffers from prolonged loneliness and longs for connection and at the same time wants 'peace' by shoving away every human in his life. This constant conflict of complex nature comes from deepened self awareness and inward analysis, and in underground man's case, he himself is the reason that he suffers so much. The second part of the book explores the real realm, outside of his consciousness where he is encountered with much shame and humiliation. He indulges so much into his mind, that is agonized by the reality. The second part is his life which contradicts his mature, sophisticated and philosophical mind. This book was confusing and a bit boring to read at first, but after few pages we get a grasp of what is going on.
Analyzing the book now, I feel I resonate with this character, he does describes my thoughts well. I think this book describes every human being capable of conscious thought. There are parts of you hidden in this book, some are nasty, disgusting, loathing even, the parts of you that hide away from the world, the anxiety, self pity, fear, constant existential dread, depression, and despair of not having any worth to the world. And the underground man said " To be overly conscious is a sickness." and " How can a man of consciousness have the slightest respect for himself. "
Analyzing the book now, I feel I resonate with this character, he does describes my thoughts well. I think this book describes every human being capable of conscious thought. There are parts of you hidden in this book, some are nasty, disgusting, loathing even, the parts of you that hide away from the world, the anxiety, self pity, fear, constant existential dread, depression, and despair of not having any worth to the world. And the underground man said " To be overly conscious is a sickness." and " How can a man of consciousness have the slightest respect for himself. "