Dostoyevsky And Wright On Becoming The Underground Man

<p>This thesis explores the parallels between Fyodor Dostoyevsky's <em>Notes from Underground</em> and Richard Wright's <em>The Man Who Lived Underground</em>, focusing on their shared use of the "Underground Man" archetype to critique philosophical and societal structures. Dostoyevsky's Underground Man embodies the contradictions of Determinism and Rational Egoism in 19th-century Russia, exposing the flaws of these ideologies through satire. In contrast, Wright recontextualizes this character to address racial injustice in mid-20th-century America, using Fred Daniels' descent into a literal underground to highlight systemic oppression. By comparing these works, the thesis demonstrates how both authors utilize the underground as a metaphorical space for exploring themes of alienation, free will, and societal critique. While Dostoyevsky critiques the rise of Determinism and Rational Egoism, Wright addresses the external pressures of racism, revealing a common thread of resistance against deterministic forces. Ultimately, both texts illustrate the enduring conflict between individual agency and societal constraints, underscoring the dangers of suppressing free will and the complexities of the human condition.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Year dc:date.available

2024

Author dc:creator

• Alam, Zain

• Comparative Literature
• Literature in English, North America

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1220

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:cc_etds_theses-2276