Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground Essay

Fyodor Dostoevsky is unrivalled of the around influential authors in world literature. This Russian author had written some(prenominal) remarkable novels including Crime and Punish workforcet, The Idiot and Brothers Karamazov. However, before the aforementi nonpareild novels were published, Dostoevsky had already gained ex morsel acclaim and recognition for his work entitled Notes from surreptitious. This novel explores how the give updom of homosexual is undermined by the atmosphere of rationality that dominated the 17th and 18th centuries. by dint of the novels protagonist, the electron tube homosexual, Dostoevsky illustrates how real emancipation is bitifested in the defiance of designer. The period c ei in that respectd the Enlightenment occurred by with(predicate) emerge the 17th and 18th centuries (Marder, Meyer, & axerophthol Wyshak, n. d. ). During this era, author governed over e very endeavor, and was valued above everything else. The period left no room for superstition or foolishness rationality reigned supreme (Marder, Meyer, & ampere Wyshak, n. d. ). Reason was the recalls in which creation and society back fail for the better.European thought was dominated by materialism, liberalism and much importantly, utopianism (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). either of these movements were established on the tactile sensation that flat coatable and natural- uprightness theories could establish a over(p) society (Emerson, 1992). Perfection was only attainable through and through the application of conclude and the manifestation of enlightened self-interest (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). The prevalence of reason powerfully influenced and inspired Dostoevsky to write Notes from opposition (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ).However, the novel did non sustain a message hold inable to the intellectual milieu alternatively, it served to criticize its very existence. Notes from surreptitious is make a motionually a res ponse to another text, entitled What Is to be Done? (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. Madden, n. d. ). It was written by N. G. Chernyshevsky and was published in 1863. Chernyshevsky was an guidance of rational egoism, a movement which fervently conceived that perfection of life could be achieved through rationality and enlightenment (Madden, n. d. ). The rational egoists also upheld principles of natural law (Madden, n.d. ). Dostoevsky disagreed with the belief that rationality and enlightenment were the severalizes to perfection. He strongly believed that the temper of man was beyond those two elements. He ac beledged mans cleverness for both the rational and the foolish he even upheld that the irrationality of man was more definite, small-arm the rationality was merely added (Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). Moreover, Dostoevsky was convinced that laws of nature or the principles of reason were not capable of recognizing human individuality, personality, and more impor tantly, cede allow (Madden, n. d. ).These beliefs are embedded in the novel, a text which Rozanov considers a critique of reason as a office to perfection (as cited in Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). The novel, in the words of Wasiolek, showed how man can be both rational and irrational, as his actions are the result of the come of his own immunity (as cited in Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). Hence, the theme of granting immunity in the novel is the period disregard for reason and natural laws. The protagonist of the novel is the Underground mankind, a forty year old man who used to work in civil service (Dostoevsky, 1992).For a protagonist, he is considered an anti-hero (Madden, n. d. ). He is also the antithesis of the time in which he lived he disagreed with utilitarianism, which prevailed during the 19th century. Utilitarianism was characterized by utilizing mathematical mandates and synthetic proofs to equate ones trusts with his topper interests (Madden, n . d. ). The Underground mankind disagrees with this he attests that man wants to exercise his emancipation and could do so regardless if it agrees with his trounce interests or not. If it is mans confide to act irrational, he could. Of course, performing irrational is not in anyones best interest.However, by being irrational, he was truly able to exercise his freedom. Actions based on desires, instead of reason, enable man to be free. Freedom is thus associated with acting without reason. So in an era where reason dominated, the Underground humankind was rather unreasonable. By being unreasonable, he was able to be truly free. In the novel, the Underground gentlemans gentleman asserts that experience deprives one of freedom. Dostoevsky (1992) writes, Science has managed by now to anatomise man to such a degree that we already know that all your pick up, your so-called free will is nothing (p.29). The Underground Man wherefore begins his attack on utilitarianism If someda y they should really discover the formula for all our whims and wishesI mean, what causes them, what laws theyre governed by, how they develop and where they lead in one sideslip or anotherin other words, an actual mathematical formulawhy, whence man will possibly immediately stop needinessWho wants to wish accord to graphs (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 29)? Whims and wishes in this quotation refers to the desires of man. The principles of utilitarianism are marked by analysis of peoples desires.These desires undergo scrutiny, as to get word if these desires agree with what is best for the people. However, the act of wishing does not involve analysis or scrutiny. One can desire something for no apparent reason. One may wish for something that may prove counterproductive in the long run. The exercise of freedom is spontaneous and non-regulated. If one has to base his or her desires from the graphs or formulas of science and math, they would no longer fall under the exercise of freedo m. If one is to desire based on the graphs or formulas, it would not be an act of freedom any more.This is because there is imposition involved the desires are imposed upon by the requirements of science or math. In this situation, the desires of man are dictated by the principles of reason. Thus, freedom disappears upon the use of reason. In the words of the Underground Man, For if desires are one day brought into complete accord with reason, then we shall reason instead of wishing (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 30). The Underground Man continues his argument against utilitarianism by differentiating reason and desires. He statesYou see, gentlemen, reason is unquestionably a fine thing, but reason is no more than reason, and it gives fulfillment only to a mans reasoning capacity, while desires are a manifestation of the whole of lifeI mean the whole of human life, both with its reason and with all its itches and scratches (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 31). In this quotation, the Underground Man aff irms that while reason is important, it is not the most important thing. The desires of man, through which freedom can be exercised, have a much wider oscilloscope than reason. therefore, the desires of man cannot be reduced to graphs and tables because it transcends them.The Underground Man uses the indulgent cay as a symbol of how reason curbs mans freedom He will insist on clinging precisely to his own baseless dreams, his most vulgar folly, solely in order to confirm himself that men are still men, and not piano keys, which may be play by the hands of natural laws themselves, but which are threatened by this very playing to be brought to a state where it will no longer be possible to wish a thing alfresco of graphs and schedules (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 34). Piano keys are pressed to make a sound in the process of playing the piano.These keys cannot produce sound on their own they need to be touched and pressed. The analogy between the man and the piano key is what Dostoevsky used to illustrate his point. By measuring mans desires with the graphs and formulas to determine whether or not it is in their best interests, man becomes a piano key. This is because man comes under the mercy of reason which plays him. To be manipulated by reason is to be bound by its laws therefore, it is not freedom. The Underground Man believes that creation values freedom over reason and best interests (Madden, n. d. ).Freedom means acting out of ones desires or wishes whether or not the act spoken of is irrational or foolish. In the book, the Underground Man manifests his freedom through several examples. He had committed acts contrary to reason, make him a truly free individual. Hence, the Underground Man was successful in escaping the res publica of reason he despises. The book starts with the Underground Mans admission of a fuss. He says, I think that my liver hurts (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 1). Anyone who experiences bother will surely resort to measures to eliminate th at pain. This is because pain is woe, and nobody wants to suffer.In the instance that pain is felt, it is only reasonable that one try ons checkup economic aid by call downing a come to. On the contrary, the Underground Man says, No, sir, I refuse to see a doctor out of spite (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 1). This last is obviously irrational, because he does not want to see a doctor to deal with the pain. In addition, he does not have a binding reason not to go to the doctor. One would presume that he just takes joyfulness in his own pain. A rational man would let this decision as preposterous, as no one ever enjoyed suffering from pain (Madden, n. d.). However, what appears to be a manifestation of masochistic tendencies is actually the Underground Mans exercise of freedom. Reason dictates that when one feels pain, that person should visit the doctor. As was earlier discussed, the Underground Man believes that reason limits freedom, because it only receipts the desires that wo uld be in ones best interests. The tolerance of pain and the derivation of pleasure from it is the Underground Mans way of breaking free from reason. Surely, it is a foolish thing to do, but he does not want to conform to the dictates of reason.He values his freedom, so he refuses to act according to reason. He is a free man he could do as he pleased. Even if it is contrary to his best interests in prolonging such agony, he still does it because he wished to do so. By tolerating pain and deriving pleasure from it, he successful avoids the system of reason. fit in to the Underground Man, I know better than anyone else that I will only harm myself by this, and no one else. And yet, if I dont seek a cure, it is out of spite. My liver hurts? Good, let it hurt still more (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 2)The Underground Man proceeds with his painful endeavor, this time with a toothache. The fourth chapter of the book opens with his jest Ha-ha-ha You will find pleasure in a toothache next And w hy not? There is pleasure in a toothache ache too (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 14). Just like with the liver ache, the Underground Man allows himself to feel the pain of his tooth instead of seeing a dentist. He welcomes the pain, and refuses to seek treatment. A critic of the novel, Mikhaylovsky declares that the Underground Man tortures because he wants to, he likes torture.There is neither reason nor purpose here, and, in the opinion of Dostoevksy, they are not at all necessary, for absolute cruelty is interesting (as cited in Marder, Meyer, & Wyshak, n. d. ). Indeed, this is true. The Underground Man does not subject himself to pain for a reason. In fact, he does so to do away with reason. He refrains from seeking medical treatment because he wants to. By indulging in his desire, he exercises complete freedom. Aside from the aforementioned tolerance of pains, the Underground Man had exercised his freedom through irrationality in other ways. He statesI would feel a certain hidden, mo rbid, unsportsmanlike little pleasure in the acute cognisance that I had once again committed something vile that day, that what had been make could no longer be undone and I would gnaw and gnaw at myself in silenceuntil the bitterness would finally begin to turn into a kind of shameful, damnable sweetness (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 7). In this excerpt, the Underground Man expresses how he had realized his evil ways by contemplating what he had done. However, instead of wallowing in guilt, the realization ends up being a source of pleasure. How did the Underground Man manifest his freedom through this?The purveyors of rationality would insist that those who know what is in their best interests would not resort to baseness or frivolity. The Underground Man was aware of vileness of his actions in a way, he was aware it was not in his best interests. However, he did not feel a esthesis of guilt. The realization of his action that started with bitterness eventually became that of sweetne ss. He knew what he had done was bad, but this does not change the fact that he derived pleasure from it. His reception to such vile deeds set him apart from what reason dictates as proper.Because he did not follow the dictates of reason, he had exercised his own freedom through defiance. Reason makes one feel burdened when one commits a fouled or vile action. It supposes that rational ways should be observed, and a nasty or vile action is never rational. He sights an example when one is forced to apologize for a nasty deed. The Underground Man says Generally, I could never endure saying, Forgive me, Papa, I wont do it againand not because I was incapable of saying it, but, on the contrary, perhaps precisely because I was all too capable of it.And how I did it (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 16) In this passage, the Underground Man expressed disagreement with repentance. He believes that one should not apologize for doing something. He finds apologies as deceiving the claim to never do an a ct considered vile again seems insincere. In our freedom, we are all capable of doing these acts. regardless if they are rational or irrational, we all have the capacity to act according to our own free will. The claim I wont do it again is quite fraudulent, as it is quite understood that anyone can do anything, according to their free will.Thus, it is possible for one to exercise freedom and desire something which is not in ones best interest. According to the Underground Man And what if his advantage on a given critical point not only may, but must, lie exactly in choosing for himself the harmful rather than the advantageous? And if this is so, if there can be such an occasion, then the entire rule is shattered to smithereens (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 22). The rule spoken of here is the belief that man would choose what is in his best interests. Again, the exercise of freedom lies in choosing or desiring something regardless of their nature.In the above quotation, the Underground Ma n affirms that there will be instances wherein man will choose what is harmful, instead of what is useful, to him. The arcminute such situation arises, the principle of reason will be disproved. The Underground Man does not believe in the principle that man will act according to what is in his best interests. Neither does he believe that mans desires can be reduced to graphs of science nor formulas of mathematics. The opinion of freedom for the Underground Man is that which is contrary to the dictates of reason.He does not acknowledge that man will commit acts that are in tune with his best interests. This would be a violation of his freedom, as the freedom presupposes ones capacity for both the rational and the irrational. If one chooses to commit an irrational act, he is merely exercising his freedom. Did the Underground Man succeed in escaping the realm of reason he so despised? The answer is yes. His tolerance of pain and derivation of pleasure from suffering were direct defia nce to reason. He had rendered himself in all liberated from the atmosphere of rationality.He did and thought as he pleased, whether or not it was in his best interests. Indeed, he had escaped, and is completely free. REFERENCES Dostoevsky, F. (1992). Notes from Underground (M. Ginsburg, Trans. ). impudently York Bantam. (Original work published in 1864). Madden, C. (n. d. ). SparkNote on Notes from Underground. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http//www. sparknotes. com/lit/ pipe/ Marder, J. , Meyer, M. , & Wyshak, F. (n. d. ). Dostoevskys Notes from Underground Study Guide. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http//community. middlebury. edu/beyer/courses/previous/ru351/novels/UGMan/ugman. hypertext markup language