The Human Condition, As Described by An Outside Party

             This whole book seems to be a simulation of this man’s life who is the ultimate antithesis to what a human should desire. This is interesting seeing as the initial intent of the book, as given by the authors note, is to give as best a true perspective of the human condition with as little bias as possible. Then it makes sense, if the author truly wanted to write about the human condition, he would have to tell it through a medium that is as far away from this idea of being “human” as possible, as to remove any predisposition. Personally, I think Dostoyevsky reflects many of the characteristics of The Underground Man in real life, therefore he feels as though he is the one person who can best describe what makes people tick. I am able to make this conclusion based around the description in the beginning that almost all humans are going towards a goal, some definite or trying to gain some ‘advantage’ through logic and the only time humans are not working towards this ‘advantage’ is in the pursuit of freedom and choice. Yet the Underground Man shies away, both physically and socially, from all of these definitions that Dostoyevsky gives for the human condition.