Dostoevsky’s ‘Notes from Underground’

Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground" is a novel that captures the thoughts of an unnamed narrator, often referred to as the Underground Man, who is a disillusioned former civil servant living in St. Petersburg. The novel delves into themes of free will, existentialism, and the nature of society. Through a confessional and philosophical monologue, the Underground Man critiques modernity, rationality, and the struggle between individual desires and societal expectations. The work is often regarded as a precursor to existential thought, exploring the complexities of human psychology and the often contradictory nature of human behavior.