THE EFFECT OF THE ANONYMOUS NARRATOR'S PERSONALITY THAT MAKES HIM THE “UNDERGROUND MAN” IN DOSTOEVSKY’S NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND

Abstract

“Notes from the Underground” is a novel written by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, the Russia’s greatest novelist and literary psychologist, in 1863. It was first published in Epoch Magazine in 1864. Through this novel, Dostoevsky wants to present Russian life in middle of Nineteenth century, especially impersonal life in a big city, St. Petersburg, Russia. Dostoevsky wrote about its darker side, poverty, empty routines, and the lack of relationships. He wrote about a person who are forced to live “underground” because he cannot relate to society. His incapability to make normal relationships with people is caused by his attitude. He threats them with a mixture of disgust and fear that results in his humiliation and his decision to live “underground” furthermore, this study uses psychological approach. This approach is used to analyze the anonymous narrator personality and attitude that effect in his incapability to make normal relationships and results in “underground” life. The method of analysis is based on library research. All of data and information are taken from books, encyclopedias, and internet. This thesis applies inductive method because the process of analysis is done from particular statement to general one. Relate with the source, the writer will search and analyze the personality and the attitude of the main character that leads him to be the underground man. This thesis is an analysis on the effects of the anonymous narrator’s personality that makes him the “Underground Man”. Therefore some purposes can be taken. The thesis is used to enrich our knowledge about some theories of psychology. It wants to show that one’s personality affects his capability to make good relationship with others or not. It is intend to make a deeper comprehension about Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky and his works, especially Notes from the Underground . This thesis is also can be used as a additional knowledge for further analysis concerning with Dostoevsky and/ or his literary works. The result of the study shows that the person with antisocial and solitary personality usually faces difficulties in making harmonic relationship with other people. He feels comfortable of being alone; therefore, he finally decides to alienate himself from society and to live “underground”.