Angel McHugh

Honors Symposium
Despain
February 10th 2015
Notes from the Underground
Part II Chapter I
The extensive literary language used by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is
profound not only for its compositional mechanics, but the powerful
philosophy in which Dostoyevsky presents himself to exist. In Chapter I
of Part II Dostoyevsky formulates an understanding of his existence as
he identifies himself as a Russian Romantic. However he makes it
repeatedly clear that he, and those alike him, contrast greatly from the
traditionally viewed romantics of France and Germany. That is to
assume that French and German romantics are die-hard nationalist
who even in the moment of death bleed for their country. In
Dostoyevskys writings, he and other Russian romantics, represent the
polar opposite of this ideology. Dostoyevskys philosophy prioritizes the
individuals refusal in the form of indifference toward all institutions of
power. However that being said, two critical factors become
increasingly prevalent when considering why Dostoyevskys philosophy
is not so radical as to call for action against institutions of power.
Throughout the chapter it becomes apparent that the character
Dostoyevsky refers to as the Underground Man is of small stature and
low physique. It also becomes apparent that because of these
shortcomings he had developed low self-esteem, which hindered his
interpersonal communication skills due to irrational fears of rejection.
These two essential factors play pivotal roles in Dostoyevskys natural
bias to his ethical code in which his philosophy is based upon. Because
of his physical underdevelopment, Dostoyevsky develops a deep

inferior complex, which rules his life and plunged him into a deep
depression. It was there when his perspective of identity began to
accumulate and become as he labels it a Russian Romantic. Deep in
his depression when the inferiority was at its height; he cannot
stomach confrontation on any level and avoids communication with
everyone he comes into contact with. Contradictorily however he
desires communication more than ever, but his irrational fears of
rejection overrule this desire. And so because Dostoyevsky possessed
a natural bias toward himself to be subservient to his peers his
philosophy hinges on a very distinct code of ethics. Dostoyevskys core
criteria to following the Russian Romantic philosophy was to see the
world for everything it is and accept no other mans interpretation but
refuse it with indifference, because of the practicality in regards to
real-life. To elaborate Dostoyevskys inferiority complex drives the
Underground Man to avoid confrontation at any cost of humility; it is
his natural bias to maintain neutrality in the environment, and so when
challenged ethically he instinctually will retreat introvertly to protest
the action. The factor of Dostoyevskys pre-existing schema of his
existence is the answers to why? when questioning Dostoyevskys
method of philosophy and the Underground Man, who in the end is
subservient to that question.