The story in one page
A spiteful, former official in his forties retreats to a cramped apartment to wage a one-man war against reason and social progress. He rejects the notion that humans seek their own advantage, arguing instead for the right to be stupid and ungrateful. After a lengthy philosophical rejection of utilitarian logic, he recounts a humiliating attempt to intrude upon a dinner party for an officer named Zverkov. The evening devolves into an awkward pursuit of a young woman named Liza, whom he tries to lecture on domestic bliss, only to lash out when she offers him genuine empathy. He concludes that modern people are stillborn, preferring books and abstract ideas to the mess of real human blood and body.
Who's who
- The Underground Man
An isolated, spiteful former official who writes his memoirs.
- Liza
A young prostitute who offers the narrator genuine compassion.
- Zverkov
A self-confident military officer and the narrator's old school rival.
- Apollon
The narrator's elderly, dignified, and incredibly judgmental servant.
- Simonov
An old school acquaintance who begrudgingly allows the narrator to join dinner.
What it's really about
- Free Will
- The human desire to act irrationally just to prove independence.
- Social Alienation
- The self-imposed isolation of an intellectual who hates society.
Why it's memorable
- The narrator bumping into an officer on the street repeatedly to assert his social standing.
- A failed toast at a dinner party where the narrator is ignored by everyone.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
The narrator chases Liza away after confessing his own misery, then returns to his basement, deciding that 'real life' is too oppressive compared to his books and notes.
For your book club
- Is the narrator's spite a legitimate defense against a hyper-rational world?
- Why does the narrator feel the need to destroy Liza's hope after he creates it?