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Notes from Underground: Difference between revisions
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===The Human Mind According to Freud=== | ===The Human Mind According to Freud=== | ||
One very prominent theme in ''Notes from Underground'' is the | One very prominent theme in ''Notes from Underground'' is the Narrator’s incessant struggle with his conscience. He is constantly stranded between achieving his own selfish desires and doing what’s right according to society’s standards. Even though the never-ending battle causes the Underground Man great anguish, he cannot seem to control it. Instead, he spends his life searching for the “advantage”, which will grant him “One’s own free unfettered choice, one’s own whim no matter what” (qtd. in Nabokov 118). This brings up Freud’s theory of the personality model, otherwise known as the id, the ego, and the superego. | ||
The [http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html id, ego, and superego] are the building blocks of our personalities. They determine how we handle everyday situations, in other words-reality. According to Freud, “In a healthy person, the ego is the strongest so that it can satisfy the needs of the id, not upset the superego, and still take into consideration the reality of every situation. Not an easy job by any means, but if the id gets too strong, impulses and self gratification take over the person's life. If the superego becomes too strong, the person would be driven by rigid morals, would be judgmental and unbending in his or her interactions with the world” (Hefner, chap. 3). The Underground Man’s inability to control his impulses and lust for self gratification suggests that he is ruled by his id. However, a careful analysis of each stage will provide a more through understanding of the complex human mind. | |||
The [http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html id, ego, and superego] are the building blocks of our personalities. They determine how we handle everyday situations, in other words-reality. According to Freud, “In a healthy person, the ego is the strongest so that it can satisfy the needs of the id, not upset the superego, and still take into consideration the reality of every situation. Not an easy job by any means, but if the id gets too strong, impulses and self gratification take over the person's life. If the superego becomes too strong, the person would be driven by rigid morals, would be judgmental and unbending in his or her interactions with the world” ( | |||
According to Freud, we are born with our [http://allpsych.com/dictionary/i.html Id]. He states that as newborns, the id is responsible for allowing the basic needs to be met. The id also operates on the pleasure principle; in other words, the id only wants what feels good at that specific moment. The id also does not care about reality or about anyone else’s needs; it only cares about its own satisfaction. This type of behavior is fine for a baby, but is considered selfish when displayed by adults. The Underground man is controlled by his id on more times than not. One prime example is his refusal to pay Apollon his wages. Even though the narrator is clearly in the wrong, he tries to force his servant to beg for forgiveness merely out of selfish spite. “Here’s the money, you see! Here it is! (I pulled it out of a drawer.) All seven rubles. But you won’t get it, you won’t until you come to me respectfully, with your head bowed, to ask my forgiveness. Do you hear? (1319)” However, when the narrator needs Apollon’s help, he changes his attitude. “Apollon,” I whispered in feverish haste, tossing down the seven rubles which had been in my hand the whole time, “here are your wages. There, you see, I’ve given them to you. But now you must rescue me: bring us some tea and a dozen rusks the tavern at once. If you don’t go, you’ll make me a very miserable man. (1320)” This is why our personalities are governed by another more mature stage-the Ego. | According to Freud, we are born with our [http://allpsych.com/dictionary/i.html Id]. He states that as newborns, the id is responsible for allowing the basic needs to be met. The id also operates on the pleasure principle; in other words, the id only wants what feels good at that specific moment. The id also does not care about reality or about anyone else’s needs; it only cares about its own satisfaction. This type of behavior is fine for a baby, but is considered selfish when displayed by adults. The Underground man is controlled by his id on more times than not. One prime example is his refusal to pay Apollon his wages. Even though the narrator is clearly in the wrong, he tries to force his servant to beg for forgiveness merely out of selfish spite. “Here’s the money, you see! Here it is! (I pulled it out of a drawer.) All seven rubles. But you won’t get it, you won’t until you come to me respectfully, with your head bowed, to ask my forgiveness. Do you hear? (1319)” However, when the narrator needs Apollon’s help, he changes his attitude. “Apollon,” I whispered in feverish haste, tossing down the seven rubles which had been in my hand the whole time, “here are your wages. There, you see, I’ve given them to you. But now you must rescue me: bring us some tea and a dozen rusks the tavern at once. If you don’t go, you’ll make me a very miserable man. (1320)” This is why our personalities are governed by another more mature stage-the Ego. | ||
The second stage of the personality model is the [http://allpsych.com/dictionary/e.html Ego], which is responsible for keeping the id rooted to reality. The ego is based on the reality principle, which takes other people’s needs and desires into consideration. The ego also understands that being selfish may have consequences; so its purpose is to meet the needs of the id while taking into consideration the reality of the situation. One of the Underground Man’s only sane moments is during the farewell dinner. He suddenly realizes that he invited himself somewhere that he is not wanted. Consequently, his presence is ruining the affair and for just a moment, he faces reality. “Good heavens, these are not the people for me” I thought. “And what a fool I have made of myself before them” (qtd. in Nabokov 122)! | |||
The second stage of the personality model is the [http://allpsych.com/dictionary/e.html Ego], which is responsible for keeping the id rooted to reality. The ego is based on the reality principle, which takes other people’s needs and desires into consideration. The ego also understands that being selfish may have consequences; so its purpose is to meet the needs of the id while taking into consideration the reality of the situation. One of the Underground Man’s only sane moments is during the farewell dinner. He suddenly realizes that he invited himself somewhere that he is not wanted. Consequently, his presence is ruining the affair and for just a moment, he faces reality. “Good heavens, these are not the people for me” I thought. “And what a fool I have made of myself before them” (Nabokov 122)! | The last stage of the personality model is the [http://www.cla.purdue.edu/academic/engl/theory/psychoanalysis/definitions/superego.html Superego], which is responsible for introducing morals into the everyday situation. This stage is most prevalent when moral and ethical restraints must be addressed. The superego is also known as the conscious because it establishes the belief of right and wrong. The last scene of the play is when the Underground Man finally feels regret for his behavior. After Liza is gone, he realizes that he wanted her to stay, but it’s too late. “The Underground Man is distraught and wants to beg her forgiveness. He declares that he will never remember this moment with indifference. A moment later, though, he convinces himself that Liza will be purified and elevated by the hatred and forgiveness that his insult will inspire in her. At the same time, he is conscious of the literary merit of his own thoughts, and feels ashamed that he is focusing on that literary merit rather than on Liza’s welfare” (Madden). The last scene with Liza takes the Underground Man into a downward spiral that he can't escape. His conscience finally won. | ||
The last stage of the personality model is the [http://www.cla.purdue.edu/academic/engl/theory/psychoanalysis/definitions/superego.html Superego], which is responsible for introducing morals into the everyday situation. This stage is most prevalent when moral and ethical restraints must be addressed. The superego is also known as the conscious because it establishes the belief of right and wrong. The last scene of the play is when the Underground Man finally feels regret for his behavior. After Liza is gone, he realizes that he wanted her to stay, but it’s too late. “The Underground Man is distraught and wants to beg her forgiveness. He declares that he will never remember this moment with indifference. A moment later, though, he convinces himself that Liza will be purified and elevated by the hatred and forgiveness that his insult will inspire in her. At the same time, he is conscious of the literary merit of his own thoughts, and feels ashamed that he is focusing on that literary merit rather than on Liza’s welfare” (Madden). The last scene with Liza takes the Underground Man into a downward spiral that he can't escape. His | |||
== Major Symbols == | == Major Symbols == | ||