The Underground Man

I felt that Dostoevsky wrote Notes from the Underground in an attempt to show society that God and the act of redemption were not lost. Redemption can be defined as the act of redeeming or the condition of having been redeemed. Although, the Underground Man has many qualities that need redemption I feel that Dostoevsky believed that the Underground Man could indeed be saved. Dostoevsky realized that society was going from the value of reason to the declining of the belief in God. Notes from the Underground was his last ditch effort to wake up society and illustrate why this shift in behavior was wrong.

I especially found it interesting when the Underground Man attempts to rescue Liza, an attractive young prostitute. Despite the profession that Liza leads she is somewhat reserved and harmless. Even though the Underground Man is impassionate when he is speaking to Liza he still shows that he cares. The Underground man tells Liza about the horrible future that awaits her if she continues in the line of work that she is in. A few days later when Liza visits the Underground Man in his poor, dirty apartment he reacts with anger and shame. He reacts this way because he comes to the realization that Liza has a reason to look down upon him or give him pity. He continues to insult her throughout the visit, in an attempt to make her not have compassion for him. Liza doesn't understand the Underground Man's reaction to her visiting, and therefore she leaves upset and perplexed.

Liza is a naturally sincere and compassionate but also instills a certain pride and nobility. I feel that Dostoevsky made Liza have these qualities to show what society was turning its back on. The Underground Man turns his back and insults Liza in the same manner that the value of reason was rejecting God. I feel that Dostoevsky was showing us that it was not to late to redeem the Underground Man. Liza showed that she was willing and encompassed the compassion