Notes From Underground

“Notes From Underground” is based on the novella written in 1864 by Fyodor Dostoevsky. The protagonist who is simultaneously suffering from an inferiority and a superiority complex sees himself more as a antihero than a hero as he challenges the established notion of the inherent goodness and rationality in man with a first person confession. This novella is thought to be one of Dostoevsky’s most important works which has influenced the works of several philosophers and writers both during and after his time.

Rainer Sarnet says, “Dostoevsky portrays a person who thinks that they are the smartest and the meanest, the most sensitive and the most egoistic person. He talks about our delusions of grandeur and complexes, the contradictions between Russia and Europe, the hodgepodge of rationality and irrationality which controls politics, lives and also love. Dostoevsky creates a world where love rules. Abandoning love is the biggest danger and struggle – should you hold on or let go? Even if your mind is saying that love should be cherished, deep inside we have already let go of it. We destroy everything while persuading ourselves that we’re moving towards truth.”