The Underground Man

DISPUTATIO METHOD FORMAT

Name: Zhibek Kamalbek kyzy ID: 6411

Question:
Can the Underground Man stop being the ‘Underground Man’?

Your Answer (just yes or no):
No

Opposing Argument 1: The Underground man is able to stop being the ‘Underground man’ using his knowledge and ‘consciousness’. He relies on that fact the consciousness helps to analyze humanity’s life.
If the man were conscious, he would be able to see things behind the wall.

Opposing Argument 2: The Underground Man will stop being a cave man when he actually will have such need. For example, when he wanted to show off in his cruel classmates’ eyes, he began to try.

First of all, he has a contradictory nature that complicates him in defining himself. Therefore, the narrator does not have his character settled up properly. Yet, the intelligence of this man is overdeveloped, that makes him even more stupid. He does not know how to respect others, since he has never experienced real feelings and sympathy from others. This man cannot change his personality and the life. The Underground Man has a conflicting nature. For example, he thinks that it is worthy to be down in the Underground place, where no one disturbs him. But later, he wishes to join the public. He desires to become usual, normal man. “ I had done nothing simply from laziness! …there would be at least one quality, as it were positive in me”. (The Notes from the Underground, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Part I, book VI, page 12). If he could be lazy, he would become an ordinary man. Furthermore, he would be able to enjoy and see all those ‘sublime and beautiful things’. Unfortunately, this character is indecisive and cannot pick one image or a ‘mask’, as Orwell mentioned in his “Shooting an

Even he, himself believes that “To be too conscious is an illness – a real thorough going illness”. (Notes from the Underground’, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Book 1, Part II, page 4). It is well known that if person gets ‘too conscious’ – he becomes too ambitious in his life. These type of people are not capable of stopping themselves. Therefore, the Underground Man cannot stop being himself.
Refutation of Opposing Argument 2:
This man gets hideous when he wants to be appreciated by others. He should not need to be noticed, for the reason that if he is seen, then he will harm others by this opportunity. “Once indeed, I had a friend. But I was already a tyrant at heart; I wanted to exercise unbounded sway over him… all I needed him was to win a victory over him, to subjugate him and nothing else”. (The Notes from the Underground, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Part II, Book III, p 39). He harms his friend in order to be recognized. Is this needed? Moreover, if this man stops being an Underground Man, he would be a problem for public. In conclusion, he cannot stop his life style.
Refutation of Opposing Argument