Class Discussion (1/29/14) (Meagan Adler)

During today’s class discussion on Notes from the Underground, I was particularly intrigued by the idea of superstitions and how the narrator is “well-educated enough not to be superstitious” (pg.1), but still is superstitious.  I agree with the class in that the narrator is superstitious because he wants to believe that he is in control of his fate, for he needs to feel power over something since he is internally powerless.  I believe that he does not control his mind, but rather his mind controls him.  I was also interested in the idea that, like everybody, the narrator is truly a soft-sided man but chooses to be almost aggressive and angry because he does not want to make himself vulnerable to other people.  He knows that soft people are vulnerable, because he himself enjoyed exerting power as a spiteful official.  Lastly, I also agree that we are inclined to dislike officials because they condescendingly implement their superiority and make us feel somewhat insignificant.