Notes from the Underground

"Notes from the Underground" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a psychological story from the 1800s that introduces us to an unnamed main character, the Underground Man, who struggles with big questions about life and what it means to be human. We see his strong feelings of being alone and his dislike for himself in a world that's changing fast. The story starts with the Underground Man as a grumpy, thoughtful person looking back on his life after leaving his government job. He thinks of himself as sick and mean, feeling sorry for himself while also pointing out what he sees wrong with society. Because he understands himself so well, he can't bring himself to take action, showing how troubled and alone he feels. He switches between hating and being drawn to himself and others, and the story's mood goes back and forth between funny but dark and deeply sad. Through his confessions, Dostoyevsky pulls us into a maze of thoughts that makes us question what life, being ourselves, and right and wrong really mean.