A Critique to Todorov's on the Notes from the Underground - Essay Example

s from the underground This paper offers a summery and a critique to Todorov’s critical essay on the s from the underground. Summary The writer begins by explaining that today’s readers commonly encounter Dostoevsky’s work and his themes identifies with current lives. The author’s reputation in his literacy work is similarly captivating and critiques are swayed to discuss more about the author that his works. Some of the interesting events in his life are “the prison years, the passion for gambling, the epilepsy, and the tumultuous love affairs” (Todorov 1). Critiques who explore the author to higher levels however are captivated by his ideas and fail to discuss the author as a person. Thus, an opportunity to study Dostoevsky’s work implies a capacity to explore both his concepts and approaches to communicating the concepts. His philosophical approach to writing also identifies him as a diversified philosopher who offers different philosophical ideas as though he were many philosophical personalities. The work, ‘Notes from the underground,’ being the most explorative of such a philosophical approach therefore makes it the most significant for understanding the author (Todorov 1). ‘Notes from the underground,’ is presented in two sections, “Underground,” and “A pros of the wet snow” (Todorov 1). In the first section, the narrator offers a self-introduction and explores his ideas and the cause that both led and had to lead his status. The next section illustrates more about the person. Todorov then presents the narrator’s ideology and begins with the concept of consciousness that does not necessarily mean the converse of unconsciousness but a person’s lack of the concept of consciousness. In this, the author identifies a simple man without concept of self and a self-conscious individual. Self-consciousness however limits a person’s adventure as it is presented to precede an individual’s action and consequently hinder such actions. Actions therefore come from the simple men. Further, the narrator associate consciousness with suffering that may manifest in the physical body (Todorov 1). Another theme that the author illustrates is the theme of reason that is responsible for people’s behavior. Reason is only an element of the reasonable and is contrary to the nature of human that is driven by desire and will. He also identifies the absurdity in applying rationale as the single basis of controlling other people’s lives. In illustrating the theme of reason, the narrator applies historical experiences of humans as well as his personal experience. His presentation of the work also illustrates drama in speech through cited text, incorporation of the audience, and the first person concept. The writer explores these concepts and expertise responses to them. Todorov’s critique also explores a relationship between two concepts, the concept of dialogue, and one that is initiated in dialogue. The drama of peach is extended to the second part of the literature and illustrated by both “liberal” and “romantic literatures” (Todorov 1). The romantic literature illustrates dreams that fails to materialize and in which the narrator is full of romantic desires. Several of such dreams are illustrated and in their eventual futility. The narrator however pointed to their ‘unliteracy’ to establish the concept of literacy experience and reality. The narrator also identifies dependence on literacy experience and admits that ‘they’ lose directions without such literacy. Todorov also identifies the themes of master and slave that he explains is vested in the narrator’s mentality and not in the real physical world. This is because the narrator identifies and in occasions assumes the concept of equality, superiority, or inferiority. Owing the narrator psychological slavery experience for instance, he chooses to enslave Lisa to demonstrate the concept of master and servant. These further identify the theme of “self and the others” as the narrator isolates himself from other people to avoid suffering from inferiority complex (Todorov 1). Todorov also identifies application of symbolism to convey the author’s message as is illustrated in the narrator’s interaction with Lisa that downplays the master-slave construct (Todorov 1). Response Todorov applies an analytical approach to reviewing Dosttoevsky’s work. His introductory approach to his critique is captivating as he identifies a conflict in understanding the author and his work and with this respect elicits the reader’s interest in the work that he wants to review. This particularly draws attention to the context of the author’s work and any of the author’s characters that may be illustrated in the review. I agree with the writer’s introductory information about the author and his ideological approach that is associated with diversified philosophical inputs. This is demonstrated in the review’s identification of philosophical ideologies through the narrator in themes such as the “master and slave” and the theme of “self and others” (Todorov 1). Todorov also succeeds in capturing his audience by illustrating the significance of the work he is reviewing, in literature. He does this by demonstrating that his interest in the Dostoevsky’s is not an isolated one but that many experts in literature have reviewed the author and his works. He therefore identifies himself among critiques of the popular writings; an indicator that his review either is as good as or is better that existing reviews. This is because an inferiority attitude would not identify similar works from which its inputs can be evaluated. Todorov is similarly organized in his approach to reviewing the work that mainly focuses on the themes and techniques of the author. Following the introduction is for example an illustration of the literature’s outline before exploration of the themes and techniques, an approach that allows a smooth flow of the critique and guides the reader through his work. His organization of the writing by the themes and exploration of the techniques within the themes also allow readers to understand each of the technique at a time. His use of quotations from the critiqued text also authenticate his work as the reader is able to relate to the original text and to conceptualize the themes and the techniques as are applied by the author in the text. His application of irony to initiate a conflict in themes such as the master and slave concept and the use of symbolism also succeeds in developing readers’ understanding of the works by initiating analytics. He also infers from other literatures to support his opinion about the critiqued text. I therefore hold the opinion that Todorov’s critique is informed and reflect an expertise perspective and presentation. It can therefore be used to understand the ‘Notes from underground.’ Works cited Todorov, Tzvetan. “Notes from underground.” Literature resource center. 2007. Cengage Learning. Print. Read More