“Undergroundness” as Messianic Nationalism: Dostoevsky’s Tragic Mistake

Abstract

It is impossible to understand Dostoevsky without considering the central theme of his creative work – the theme of the “underground man”. The “underground man” can create his own philosophy, which, as the writer thought, goes back to liberalism. But the “underground man” can be the same in everyday life. This is common for the people's “Russian majority.” Where are the usual “underground people” from? Nowhere, except from their native soil, impregnated with the idea of special mission of Russia. Dostoevsky thought differently and this was his tragic mistake.