notes from the underground
In Dostoevsky’s Notes From Underground, the underground man does not think as he does, or acts out because he is abnormal; on the contrary, he acts out because he is the same as everyone else. The underground man is the epitome of man. ... To analyze the underground man fully you must go deeper than his actions and thoughts; one must find his motives. ... The underground man, formerly in civil service, views the officer as a reminder of his past. ... As the underground man has changed occupations, he now fears others have lost respect for him. ... The underground man is envious of this and desires equal treatment. ... The same forces drive the underground man as the average person. ... The underground man believes if he can stand tall against the officer, then he has braved society as a whole.