Grey Area Man

In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground, readers meet the underground man and are subjected to the character's seemingly psychotic actions. However, the underground man is not actually psychotic, rather he is simply a tormented soul, struggling with depression, and low self-worth. While he tries his best to conform to a society that forces him to perfectly fit the mold of its ideals.  The character of the underground man was written by a Christian author to showcase the dangers of wanting to conform to a society that will never be able to give the gratification one seeks. The underground man places his worth and value on earthly ideals that will never give him the feeling he desperately needs. While the underground man’s actions are the extremes for gratification and attention, it honestly depicts the lack of feeling that someone with depression may often feel. The lack of emotion he feels forces him to not fit with any group in society; forcing him to be the grey area man, the outcast. Dostoevsky wrote his character this way because he understood that without a strong relationship with God, all of society is the underground man.

The first part of the book may cause readers to use the words psychotic, crazy, or insane when describing the character. However, this is also the first section that gives a glimpse of how dangerous conforming to society is. The underground man says he was a wicked official, but he was not wicked (Dostoevsky, 4). Thus, he contradicts himself, which leads the reader down a path of self-doubt and reflection. Dostoevsky purposely sought to create a lack of trust for the character. This contradiction shows the struggle the character feels with being his honest and sincere self, possibly facing the repercussions of society for it, versus conforming and being something he is not. This contradiction shows that the underground man is neither wicked nor not wicked, neither good nor evil, neither perfect nor imperfect, he just is. Society paints the underground man as a psychotic loner, who deserves to be exiled, when truthfully, the underground man is the person society should focus on helping. He says the “opposite elements” are to blame for his actions and says they tormented him to the point of shame and convulsions (Dostoevsky, 5). The underground man believes he is not wicked, but is worried that not being wicked, will ruin him in the eyes of society. Instead of accepting himself, so society can accept him, the underground man must resort to being a “characterless” man (Dostoevsky, 5). There is a danger in allowing ideals to motivate actions and to be the standard for judging one's life. Dostoevsky wrote his character in a way that causes the reader to doubt in order to illustrate and embody the dangers of lack of honesty and truth in society and especially with oneself. Dostoevsky wrote his character this way to purposely show the loathing of real life that many people can experience and to have readers understand that depression is a difficult condition (129). 

The actions of the underground man often seem insane or obsessive, but the man is seeking to feel any emotion he can. He feels alone and so ignored by society that he would be glad if someone would slap him (Dostoevsky, 9). The underground man is the embodiment of the extreme mood swings depression can cause. Although, he knows he is intelligent and understands his conditions are due to childhood trauma, he still cannot help but suffer from his lack of emotion (Dostoevsky, 94). Society leaves the man with no other option but to be overly obsessive and fixate on what he thinks will gratify himself. When he is in the extreme negative, he longs for the pleasure despair can bring (Dostoevsky, 9). To readers, longing for despair may seem insane, but despair is still a valid emotion that needs to be embraced like any other emotion. The difference between healthy despair and the underground man is moderation. Despair and grief can be helpful emotions, but one should not dwell in them. The underground man states that humanity is stupid and ungrateful (Dostoevsky, 25). He believes this because society rejects him. They see him as indecent and would rather ignore his capabilities than forgive his flaws. It does not matter to society that the outcast, insane, or the loners exist. The problem is when the people they deem indecent try to join the community as they truly are, instead of how society wants them to be. Humanity is not pretty. It is not a perfect being and is incapable of being good. Society lies to itself and pretends that humans can be good, so long as they follow the ideals deemed as decent. 

 The man says humans struggle from a lack of good behavior and good sense (Dostoevsky, 29). He sees the problems in society but does not fully understand why the problems exist. He lashes out at people and struggles with his emotions as a result. The underground man understands that there are issues with humanity and society, but he does not acknowledge where the problems stem from. The lack of religious beliefs can destroy a society and humanity. Throughout the book, the underground man uses God’s name several times, but he never claims he is religious. The underground man knows of God, but he does not have an actual relationship with God, and that is why he struggles with depression and feels alone. It is impossible to feel whole and accepted for who you are without being in a relationship with God. Society should not be the place where humanity seeks acceptance and love from because they cannot give something that they do not possess. While it seems outlandish that anyone would conform to society in order to avoid being the outcast, everyone does it. Buying the trending clothes, listening to the popular artist, or compromising morals are all activities that happen every single day. Humanity craves affection and acceptance so much, they are willing to pretend to be anything society tells them they should, instead of what God says they should. Love, forgiveness, and acceptance are all only possible through God and cannot come from anyone or anything else. The reason the man cannot be part of society and the reason he struggles with his emotions, is because he seeks his validation from the earthly community, instead of a higher power.

Dostoevsky’s underground man is a character unlike any other. He lies and makes readers uncomfortable, which causes some readers to view the man as insane. Dostoevsky wrote his character to teach readers that real life is messy, and it is hard, but that is what makes it worth it. The underground man shows that without Christ, humanity has no purpose and no goodness. Without Christ, humanity can be nothing more than savages, who will never know love, forgiveness, or honesty. A society without Christ is not worth being a part of and one should never seek validation from such a world. Society is a dangerous idea and can destroy people if they are not careful. Community is a gift from God, and it should be treasured, but it needs to be a tool used to draw everyone closer to God. If society is not helping glorify God, it has no purpose and should not be what humanity bases its values on. The underground man demonstrates the possible darkness that men can be subjected to. If it was not for a solid relationship with God and a true understanding with oneself, we can be nothing more than a grey area man. Dostoevsky wants all men to understand that their worth comes from God, not from a society that bases its values on the whims of man, which is truly insane.