Questions Regarding Research on Dostoyevsky & "Notes From The Underground"

[anthrax invasion]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum. I'm currently doing research on Dostoyevsky for school, and I had a few questions I've formulated regarding him and his work "Notes From The Underground." I was wondering if anyone here would be willing to discuss these questions or provide me with their own insight to them, as I know there are various interpretations of such things.

So, if you'll honor that request, here are some questions I have thus far:

1. Dostoevsky works reflect the idea that war is the rebellion of people against the idea of reason. Explain how this idea of rebellion is reflected in his works, and how his life has influenced him in his beliefs of rebellion.

2. Dostoevsky’s work was considered a precursor for existentialists such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre. This was based on Dostoevsky’s views on human needs. What were his thoughts on human urges and how did that rebel against the common soviet views of the time?

3. What are some of the underground man's self-contradictions? What opinion do you have regarding the manner in which these contradictions have effect on him in relation to altering or manipulating his perspectives?

[anthrax invasion]

No one is up for discussion of these topics?

[Silvio]

I havent read 'Notes from the Underground" but even
if I had the questions you've asked to discuss
make me feel a bit obtuse. Wish I could be more (or
indeed any) help to you. I know Nietzsche deemed
F.D a greater influence on his work than was Schopenhauer and both are frequently cited as precursers of Existentialism, though it's difficult to give
a clear definition of what is meant by that.There is such a vast difference between the most celebrated
of Existentialists. Naturally he wasn't rebelling against the Soviet state, predating
them, but I recall reading a quote where he laments
what he considered the misinterpretation of The Brothers K. claiming it was his intention to 'drive people back to the church.' However the stench of
Father Zossima's body does seem to imply some kind
of inner corruption. A couple of quotes spring to mind:
"The human race, in particular the male of the species
has evolved into a malicious, destructive and necrophile life form." F. Dostoevsky.
"Fathers and teachers, I ponder 'what is hell?' I maintain it is the misery of being unable to love." (ibid)
Please forgive errors in spelling. It's been some years since I read The Brothers K. However his characters
are unforgettable. Even a minor character who may
only appear for a chapter (eg. Ippolitt - the consumptive in The Idiot) remain fixed in my memory
while the hero of another novelist is quickly forgotten.
Silvio

[Scoundrel]

This forum isn't very active... so it may take a bit to get a reply.... however, the previous posts have a wealth of insights.... I'd recommend browsing the old forum posts on The Notes while waiting for a reply......

I haven't read this book in some time, and only read it once.  Therefore, I really don't have a firm grasp of it's deep meanings.  So, rather than pollute the forum with my ignorance... I'll give a couple links to some previous posts


http://www.fyodordostoevsky.com/yabbse/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=37


http://www.fyodordostoevsky.com/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=70

Just browse this forum.... it's a great resource!  

[El Capitan]

As far as Sartre goes, the Underground Man influenced his philosophy mainly by going against reason and his conditioning. One of  the central themes of existentialism and Sartre is that man has the ultimate free will and man's actions are entirely free all of the time. Dostoevsky shows a person who does just that, acts in an entirely free fashion. By eschewing every single bit of conditioning, reason, etc, the Underground Man essentially proves that man has free will.

As far as Dostoevsky's relationship with the Soviets, it varied. Stalin banned pretty much all of Dostoevsky's works, but the ban was lifted by Kruschiov after Stalin's death. The main reason the Soviets didn't like Dostoevsky is that Dostoevsky was both critical of leftism (ie. the Possessed) and also critical of reason/utopianism, both of which were pretty central to communism.

[Silvio]

There is a very sobering book which details the KGB's
files on 'dangerous writers' like Bulgakov, isaac Babel,
Osip Mandelstam and even Maxim Gorky (who was
the best selling domestic writer in the USSR for many
years). It's called THE KGB'S LITERARY ARCHIVE by
Vitaly Shentalinsky (Harvill Press London). There's
also a diary of Mikhail Bulgakov by the same publishers. It's not light reading and much as i love
Gorky's writing his acquiesence of some of Stalin's
paranoid and murderous M.O. is disappointing, though
it's easy for me to be brave never having faced such
a regime.The Bulgakov diary is called MANUSCRIPTS DON"T BURN