| NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND |
| PART I Underground |
| I |
| II |
| III |
| IV |
| V |
| VI |
| VII |
| VIII |
| IX |
| X |
| XI |
| PART II À Propos of the Wet Snow |
| I |
| II |
| III |
| IV |
| V |
| VI |
| VII |
| VIII |
| IX |
| X |
* The author of the diary and the diary itself are, of course, imaginary.Nevertheless it is clear that such persons as the writer of these notes notonly may, but positively must, exist in our society, when we consider thecircumstances in the midst of which our society is formed. I have tried toexpose to the view of the public more distinctly than is commonly done, one ofthe characters of the recent past. He is one of the representatives of ageneration still living. In this fragment, entitled “Underground,”this person introduces himself and his views, and, as it were, tries to explainthe causes owing to which he has made his appearance and was bound to make hisappearance in our midst. In the second fragment there are added the actualnotes of this person concerning certain events in hislife.—AUTHOR’S NOTE.
I am a sick man.... I am a spiteful man. I am an unattractive man. I believe myliver is diseased. However, I know nothing at all about my disease, and do notknow for certain what ails me. I don’t consult a doctor for it, and neverhave, though I have a respect for medicine and doctors. Besides, I am extremelysuperstitious, sufficiently so to respect medicine, anyway (I am well-educatedenough not to be superstitious, but I am superstitious). No, I refuse toconsult a doctor from spite. That you probably will not understand. Well, Iunderstand it, though. Of course, I can’t explain who it is preciselythat I am mortifying in this case by my spite: I am perfectly well aware that Icannot “pay out” the doctors by not consulting them; I know betterthan anyone that by all this I am only injuring myself and no one else. Butstill, if I