The Underground Man | Topics for Discussion & Projects

The Underground Man Topics for Discussion

Throughout the novel, the Duke yearns to overcome his feelings of loneliness and to engage with the world. What obstacles did the Duke face in his quest to emerge from his insulated life? Did the Duke succeed or fail on his quest?

The Duke thinks that personhood and identity are intimately linked to memory. He thinks that a man who loses his memories can no longer claim to have a self or to be a self. He also thinks that a man who is not remembered after he dies is not a complete man. What is the difference between these two claims? Is the Duke correct in endorsing one or both of these claims?

How does the Duke see himself? How do others see the Duke? How accurate are others' perception of the Duke? Given that others have only the Duke's behaviour as evidence for his mental condition, how justified...
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