Notes from Underground

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a psychological novel that presents the confessions of an unnamed narrator, often called the "Underground Man." Bitter, isolated, and deeply self-critical, he rails against society, rationalism, and the idea that human behavior can be reduced to logic or self-interest.The book is divided into two parts: in the first, the Underground Man delivers a monologue filled with contradictions, exploring themes of free will, resentment, and the irrational nature of human beings. In the second, he recounts episodes from his life, including his humiliating interactions with former schoolmates and a painful relationship with a young prostitute named Liza, which reveal his inability to connect with others.Through this fragmented and contradictory voice, Dostoevsky critiques modernity, reason, and alienation, making Notes from Underground one of the first and most influential existentialist works.