Klim Samgin as a metaphysical double of F. Dostoevsky’s ‘underground man’

Abstract

The article hypothesizes that the protagonist of Dostoevsky’s ‘Notes from Underground’ [‘Zapiski iz podpolya’] became a literary prototype of the main hero in A. Gorky’s final novel. The author opines that both books are concerned with analysis of a schizoid character, such as described in A. Lowen’s Betrayal of the Body. The ‘underground man’ and Klim Samgin share a lot of psychological traits: the syndrome of schizoid alienation since both shun society; a pronounced ‘polyphonic character’ that unites them as fellow ‘split self’ sufferers (R. Lang); an inferiority complex; and delusions of grandeur. Further common psychological traits typify Samgin and the ‘underground man’ alike: ‘emotional frigidity’ and ‘stone-like impassiveness’ towards others. The author analyzes the characters’ psychological traits, often manifested in their autistic daydreaming as a way to escape reality. Lesevitsky suggests that Gorky adopts certain aspects of the author’s view of the protagonist realized by Dostoevsky in his novella.