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Underground Man Analysis

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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’, because he is an intelligent and ‘conscious’. 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. Moreover, being aware of unexpected events is helpful in the society. Underground Man can stop being the Underground Man, simply because he has an important knowledge and these listed above qualities. …show more content…

On the one hand, he desires to accomplish his weird plans, and he feels confident about himself. On the other hand, his moral courage is not strong enough to succumb his mental fear. This makes him uncomfortable, even nervous a lot. For example, when he wants to revenge on the officer, he starts planning his retreat. The officer had treated him as he was ‘nothing’, so the narrator wanted to express his bitterness in his revenge. He prearranges every single detail of his revenge. However, at the very last moment he decides to give up. Not simply because he wants to excuse, it is for the reason that he is not capable of fighting with that officer. “I should have had a physical courage enough, I assure you; but I had not the moral courage.” (The Notes from the Underground, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Part II, Book I, page 31). Overall, this man’s nature is contradicted by his own double personality. It seems like the Underground man does not have his character built yet, since he cannot choose what he wishes to be. He has a choice in being between good, ordinary man and the despicable, spiteful and unique person. In contrary, he is not able to pick what is best for him. He says, “I am a sick man. I am a spiteful man.” (The Notes from the Underground, Part 1, Book 1, page 1). The narrator calls himself spiteful, but later, he claims that he is not spiteful, but he just wants to act as he is. However, in reality he has no character. …show more content…

They need to be stupid in order to be able to appreciate the life’s events. The narrator believes that they are not conscious, and are capable of enjoying their lives. Whereas, he is intelligently overdeveloped and ‘too conscious’. He says, “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 a real fool. Because, he does not differ from those, who are stupid. In conclusion, the Underground Man’s intelligence makes him look like a

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