I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who is interested in existentialism or just superb storytelling.
Overview:
“Notes from the Underground” is a psychological novel. It explores the mind of an unnamed narrator. Throughout the story the narrator explores existentialism, human consciousness and societal constructs in 19th century Russia.
Themes:
- Existentialism: The underground man struggles with the meaning of life, free will and conformity to societal norms.
- Alienation: He experiences a sense of profound isolation and detachment from the society in which he lives.
- Free will vs. Determinism: The character brings the reader into the conflict between free will and determinism, questioning the extent of personal choice in a world that plays a deterministic part.
Why I recommend:
Dostoevsky is brilliant. His writing is engaging and natural. This is an masterpiece in the concepts of existentialism and challenges the reader to think on the complexities of the human mind and the ways we are trapped within society.
Although this was written long ago, it still provides a timeless view on the human condition and the loneliness of a life lived in isolation.
“Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others.”
Fyodor Dostoevsky in Notes from the Underground