Review Of Lterature Essay, Research Paper
Part I: Introduction and Chapter 1
Introduction
Dostoevsky introduces Part I of Notes from Underground. He tell us that in this first portion, the protagonist will introduce himself and explain the causes that led to his appearance before us in this text. He then explains that the subseque nt extract, “Apropos of the Wet Snow,” will record the protagonist’s own notes.
Summary
The Underground Man starts off by telling us that he has liver disease, but refuses to go to a doctor out of spite. He realizes that he hurts only himself by doing this, but even so he remains obstinately opposed to seeking proper medical attention. He tells us that he is now forty years old, a former civil servant, rude and bitter. He then immediately retracts his statement, saying he was actually not rude at all. He scoffs at “us,” the readers of his Notes, insisting that he does not care what w e think of him.
The Underground Man goes on to explain why he became spiteful, saying that only fools go far in this world, and intelligent men like himself face failure inevitably. After assuring us that he is not writing for our amusement, he describes his current mis erable situation. He lives in his “corner,” where he has bunkered down since quitting the Civil Service upon receiving a large inheritance from a wealthy relative. He has a gruesome dim room with a maidservant he despises. The St. Petersburg weather ag gravates his health, but he does not care–it makes no difference to him whether he stays or goes. Finally, he invites himself to tell us more about himself, as any decent gentlemen likes to do.
Commentary
The Underground Man’s spiteful refusal to see a doctor resounds throughout the text. The terms nihilistic and masochistic have often been applied to the Underground Man (heretofore referred to as the “UM”). Nihilism is a repudiation of societal values, and masochism is the deliberate infliction of pain on oneself, usually for pleasure. The UM’s hatred of society in general and his own powerlessness somehow combine to make it pleasurable for him to hurt himself , perhaps since he cannot harm soc iety as a whole–his helpless resentment of the external world leads him to attack himself, to shake up his inner world. The UM does not invariably turn against himself, however: we will also see him transfer this humiliation and shame onto others, play ing the role of humiliated and humiliate
St. Petersburg is also introduced in this chapter; although it may not be mentioned that much from here on in, it is important to view the city as a central character in the text (see the section on St. Petersburg for a discussion of the setting).
The UM’s self-consciousness, his constant analysis and revision of his own thoughts and words, is one of the most distinctive elements of the Notes. The UM is very aware, not only of our presence as readers (he constantly addresses us), but of our presence as judges. Thus, we must question the UM’s sincerity every time he insists that he is “not here for our amusement,” or that he “doesn’t give a damn.
The alienation that the UM feels is central to many of Dostoevsky’s most famous characters, and is not an indication of insanity so much as a failure to deal with the impossibility of life in St. Petersburg. It is telling that the UM, like many of Dostoe vsky’s other characters, is a low-ranking Civil Servant. Dostoevsky says that in the nineteenth century, one must be a “characterless person,” with a job–like the UM’s–that erases one’s individuality and identity.
Другие работы по теме:
The Scarlet Letter Review Essay Research Paper 2
The Scarlet Letter Review Essay, Research Paper Adultery, betrayal, promiscuity, subterfuge, and intrigue, all of which would make an excellent coming attraction at the box office and probably make a really good book. Add Puritan ideals and writing styles, making it long, drawn out, tedious, wearisome, sleep inducing, insipidly asinine, and the end result is The Scarlet Letter.
Job Letter Essay Research Paper To Whom
Job Letter Essay, Research Paper To Whom It May Concern: I am enclosing a copy of my resume for your files and review. I am an individual who responds to challenges and works both independently or as a part of a team,
Beloved A Review Essay Research Paper Beloved
Beloved (A Review) Essay, Research Paper Beloved I decided to delve into the issue of slavery in this novel. SETHE, the mother of Beloved, and was owned by the character Schoolteacher . SETHE had three children by another slave. Schoolteachers sons would take her milk so she couldn t feed her children. She grew tired of this mistreatment so she decided to run away.
Book Review Essay Research Paper Animal Farmby
Book Review Essay, Research Paper Animal Farm by: George Orwell Book Review by George Lacy Mrs. Spain Fall 96 Character Analysis of Napoleon “Napoleon was a large rather fierce looking Berkshire boar,” that was spoiled and always got his way. He was the only pig of the kind on the farm. Napoleon was a great rival to Snowball.
Chaplin Essay Research Paper Chaplins New GemMordaunt
Chaplin Essay, Research Paper Chaplin?s New Gem Mordaunt Hall, a reporter from the New York Times, refers to Charlie Chaplin as a ?Great host of spectators.? In his review of Chaplin?s new film, ?The Gold Rush?. Not even the scorching heat could keep the public from seeing this spectacular flick. New Yorkers swarmed to the theatres to view the new film.
Hobbit Review Essay Research Paper The Hobbit
Hobbit Review Essay, Research Paper The Hobbit or There and Back Again JRR Tolkien Strengths - The story has a wonderful adventurous plot. The plot is that of an adventurous journey by dwarves and their friend, the hobbit, in search of long lost treasure. The plot is suspenseful as the dwarves and the hobbit encounter several obstacles; spiders that catch them, elves that imprison them and goblins that wish to eat them.
Appraising My Test Taking Skills Essay Research
Paper The advantages of my test taking skills are effectiveness,organization, and good review tools. Thus, the disadvantages are manageable review time and strategy planning. I find myself mostly “stuck” on planning a strategy.
Synopsis Of The Great Gatsby Essay Research
Paper Synopsis of The Great Gatsby Review The review that I read by Charles E. Shain said that gatsby was no more great the any other man of his time. The reason for this is that Gatsby was trying to live in the past, to try to recapture what he once had. Sure he had very much money, ?gonnections?, and many acquaintances, but this does not make a man great.
Reapers Review Essay Research Paper Black reapers
Reapers Review Essay, Research Paper Black reapers are getting ready to harvest the field. Black horses may be the slaves that drive the mower through the fields. They are hardened by the treatment that they get because they just drive over the rat. When Toomer says it is “a thing that’s done” he means without thinking.
St Elizabeth Essay Research Paper I chose
St. Elizabeth Essay, Research Paper I chose the name Elizabeth for my confirmation name after Saint Elizabeth. I feel that she is a very important part in history.
Long Kiss Goodnight Essay Research Paper Ryan
Long Kiss Goodnight Essay, Research Paper Ryan Fitzgerald English 101 Movie Review Long Kiss Goodnight I give the film Long Kiss Goodnight a four out of five stars. The movie had high energy, high speed, and was a high-spirited thriller. Geena Davis plays a good schoolteacher, had a great daughter, great guy, and a good life, except for her amnesia.
Judicial Review Essay Research Paper Judicial ReviewThe
Judicial Review Essay, Research Paper Judicial Review The Supreme Court is the only court designated in the constitution. Within it is the Chief Justice of the United States, and eight associates. Being the highest court it is the last resort for all federal court questions. The Supreme Court has the power to determine whether something is constitutional or not, which makes them the final authority.
Got The Blues Essay Research Paper Got
Got The Blues? Essay, Research Paper Got the Blues? Every little thing counts unless you wrote the movie review of Varsity Blues. The reviewer for Our Take at ScreenIt.Com obviously did not come from a town where sports where heavily pushed nor does it seem that he or she has ever played a competitive sport. The repetitiveness of calling it an MTV high school generation movie lacks telling what it is actually about.
Review Of Ceremony Essay Research Paper Review
Review Of Ceremony Essay, Research Paper Review of Ceremony Ceremony, written by Leslie Marmon Silko, traces the alienation and destruction of a young Native American who must first come to terms with his past before he can overcome his post-traumatic stress. Throughout this novel, there are many symbols and examples of how not only the main character, but his culture as a whole was ignored, rejected, and destroyed.
Four Summers
–A Review Essay, Research Paper I found the story Four Summers to be a very odd and different piece. I thought it was a very true and realistic story, but the way it was told threw me off a little.
Dorian Grey Review Essay Research Paper In
Dorian Grey Review Essay, Research Paper In the novel The Picture of Dorian Grey homosexuality is an important aspect of the novel, and the book deserves credit as a pioneering depection of homosexual relationships in serious English fiction. The depection
Review Of Reviews Essay Research Paper I
Review Of Reviews Essay, Research Paper I chose to review John Updike?s Review ?It Was Sad? from the October 14th issue of ?The New Yorker?. In the review, Updike examines
The Color Purple Essay Research Paper Byron
The Color Purple Essay, Research Paper Byron Hooper 11/18/96 The Color Purple film review The Color Purple The movie “The Color Purple,” directed by Steven Speilberg, was, in general, a
What Is Poetry Essay Research Paper I
What Is Poetry? Essay, Research Paper I think poetry is a part of everyone. It can express fellings and emotion. Some people write poems to express their feelings or just because they like and
Article Review Essay Research Paper REFLECTIONI read
Article Review Essay, Research Paper REFLECTION I read the article “High-Wire ACT,” by Meg Lundstrom featured in the May/June 2000 issue of Scholastic Instructor. In the article, a fourth grade teacher from a New York elementary school explains how her students have been successful in reading class. She says that phonics and literature need to be taught to all students.
Play Review On West Side Story Essay
, Research Paper Drama Play Review on West Side Story The musical Play that I did my review on was West Side Story by Jerome Robbins. I saw this play at the Woodland High School with my family. We went to see it because my older brother, Nick was in it.
Letter Of Application Essay Research Paper Please
Letter Of Application Essay, Research Paper Please accept this letter in application for the Admission Counselor position currently available within your school. My resume is enclosed for your review and I believe you will find that my qualifications meet your expectations.
A Book Review On Danny The Champion
Of The World Essay, Research Paper The book I have chosen to do a book review on Danny the Champion of the world by Roald Dahl. It was illustrated by Quentin Blake. The actual copy I have was printed in 1991. The
Etbh Essay Research Paper When we were
Etbh Essay, Research Paper When we were young,I just knew I would find you.I might not of known you,But I knew what you were feeling.The day we met I knew it was you,The one in my dreams.When I think of you I know my prayers have been answerd.All now that I can hope for is that you will always love me.And when the day comes that we shall part,and leave one another….
Book Review Essay Research Paper Book ReviewFor
Book Review Essay, Research Paper Book Review For Whom The Bell Tolls Ernest Hemingway Pages Read: 74 (really busy) For Whom The Bell Tolls begins with a pyrotechnic for the Russian army reviewing the land where he must blow a bridge to stop enemy movement. He is a little overwhelmed by the task he is assigned to complete yet he is mentally sound in his manner and seems to know exactly how to handle himself in the situation.
Book Review Essay Research Paper Book Review
Book Review Essay, Research Paper Book Review Eric T. LibeerPark Hill South High School Thursday, May 27, 1999 Book Review By Eric Libeer Homeland, John Jakes’s formidable noel about the final explosive events of the nineteenth century, is the first in a series that will focus attention on a new “Jakes” family, the Crowns.
Volcanoes Essay Research Paper My Report is
Volcanoes Essay, Research Paper My Report is on Volcanoes. For a starter, I have a lay out of the plan for my report. Also I would like to follow a volcano in it’s path. Right now here is part of my report.
Hannibal Review Essay Research Paper Movie ReviewHannibal
Hannibal Review Essay, Research Paper Movie Review Hannibal Hannibal is a wonderful movie. I wonderful movie is a movie that is well thought out, and has a good flowing plot. Many people think this is a scary movie. I found Hannibal to be a very suspenseful and an intriguing film. Anthony Hopkins, a brilliantly outstanding actor, portrays a psychotic killer named Dr.
How To Writing A Research Essay Essay
, Research Paper How To Writing A Research Essay The toughest part of the essay, for me, was taking all the information I had gained and reduce it to a mere few pages essay. After all, quality is better