Does Dostoevsky agree with the Underground Man?
Dostoevsky says that the Underground Man, though a fictional character, is representative of certain people who “not only may but must exist in our society, taking under consideration the circumstances under which our society has generally been formed.” The Underground Man is extremely alienated from the society in …
What is the theme of Notes from Underground?
Loneliness, Isolation, and Society He speaks and writes from a mysterious place underground, separated from society. But even before retreating underground, he feels isolated even within society, whether at school (where he had no friends) or at work (where he hates all his coworkers).
What does Dostoevsky say about suffering?
In his novels, Dostoevsky placed an emphasis on the importance of humanist values and the social application of Christian love. But contrary to traditional Orthodoxy, he stressed that suffering is a mystery that may not have any ultimate cosmic reparation.
Why did Dostoevsky write notes from underground?
Dostoevsky may have been prompted to write Notes from Underground in response to a revolutionary novel called What Is to Be Done? (1863), written by the “rational egoist” N. G. Chernyshevsky. Rational egoism held that life could be perfected solely through the application of reason and enlightened self-interest.
Is the Underground Man romantic?
The Underground Man’s relationship with literature, however, is highly ambiguous. He is ashamed of the “romanticism” that leads him to want to befriend his coworkers. Though he seems to admire the Russian brand of Romanticism, he also describes it as somewhat hypocritical and absurd.
What did Fyodor Dostoevsky believe in?
Most clearly his religious beliefs are expressed in the novel “The Brothers Karamazov.” L.S.: Dostoevsky was an Orthodox Christian and viewed Christ with great love.
What does Ivan mean when he says that the tears of one tortured child are not worth the higher harmony?
Children have had no time to sin, but they suffer. Such “harmony,” says Ivan, “is not worth the tears of one tortured child.” He concludes that if truth must be bought at the price of the suffering of children, then such truth is not worth the price.