Notes from Underground

The Underground Man bemoans his inability to devote his life to that which cultural connoisseurs consider “sublime and beautiful” (19). He sees this lifestyle as a form of laziness, even gluttony. However, he affirms that people who live in this way are confident in themselves, have society’s respect, and die peacefully, knowing their life was well-lived. He has regrets about his life both because he is 40, which he considers old age, and because he resents those who think “the nastiest, unquestionable trash” (19) has artistic value.

The Underground Man further attacks the notion that the civilized individual is truly enlightened. His argument rests on the fact that, even with access to knowledge that teaches them how to act advantageously, people still knowingly act contrary to their own interests. He notes that society thinks of advantage in the terms that reflect its values: “Your advantages are prosperity, wealth, freedom, peace—and so on, and so on” (21), but he asserts that the most important advantage—choice—is left out of this formula. The freedom to knowingly act against one’s best interests is more valuable to a person than the ability to act in a way that is beneficial.