Dostoyevsky Response

Notes from Underground is the narrative of a slightly mad, extremely alienated recluse set in St. Petersburg in the mid 1800s. The text is divided into two parts: in the first, the anonymous Underground Man describes his views of the world, society, and human nature, most of which stem from his inability to integrate himself into society; the second part describes events in the Underground Man's life that explain how he descended into madness and isolation.

The events in Part II are quite simple: one afternoon, the protagonist visits an old friend, and invites himself to a dinner for a mutual acquaintance. He goes to the dinner, but acts rudely and humiliates himself. He follows the dinner party to a brothel nonetheless, determined to either clear his honor or win their friendship. At the brothel, he loses the dinner guest but meets and hires a young prostitute. He tries to convince her to give up prostitution. He then tells her to visit him,