Reasonably wrong: The underground man’s inferiority complex

Type :

Book review

Pages :

7 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

12/04/2008

Category :

Philosophy & literature

Sub category :

Literature

Oboulo.com selection criteria

$ 14.95 Add to cart

Summary :

Introduction.
The characteristics of inferiority complex.
1. Sensitivity towards criticism.
2. A hypercritical attitude.
3. Inappropriate response to flattery.
4. Feelings of persecution.
5. Having negative feelings towards competition.
Conflict raging within the Underground Man.
Seclusiveness and timidity.
An all consuming desire to be recognized as such by the eyes of society.
Conclusion.

Abstract

In Fyodor Dostoevsky's Notes From underground, desire is shown to be a more important force of human nature than reason by observing how the underground man makes decisions. Understanding that he suffers from an extreme case of inferiority complex is instrumental in being able to decipher the story without being influenced by the filtered view he tells it from. The underground man lives his life according to reason, his unnaturally high intelligence helps him rationalize almost every decision he makes which consequently leaves desire out of the equation. Although desire is an essential part of human life, the underground man can't take action on his own and serves as an example why a society isn't able to function when it makes decisions purely derived from reasoning. His inferiority complex allows him to overcome his desires to the point that they degenerate into only what he mildly wants. The seven prevalent characteristics of the complex, which have been published by stop depression, an online psychology resource clinic, are all apparent throughout the story and provide definitive evidence the underground man suffers from inferiority. The first characteristic of inferiority complex is sensitivity towards criticism. He perceives any form of criticism as a personal attack (Stop Depression).