In Fyodor Dostoevsky's biting novella Notes from Underground, recurring themes involving consciousness versus unconsciousness, suffering, and stagnant philosophical ignorance are used to portray the Underground Man as a fantastic representation of an alienated, anti-society being; overall demonstrating the impractical nature of any attempt at a utopian communist civilization. Dostoevsky shows his protagonist, "the underground man", as an unrealistically cynical and pessimistic man who is spiteful towards society only for the sake of being spiteful. By not giving his character a name, Dostoevsky implies that, although the Underground Man is a man of fiction and fantasy, it is inevitable that people of this stature exist in a society that continues to support the spread of communism. Furthermore, when asked about the nature of the underground man, Dostoevsky responds that such characters “not only can, but must exist in our society” (580). Although this statement, as well as the Underground Man's constant belittling of his audience, leads one to think of the Underground Man as a nonconformist and general outsider, it is widely used as a symbol highlighting the problems with absolute conformity and l 'utopianism. As long as people act with pure contempt towards the system, absolute communism and the theory of utopia are unattainable. The recurring theme of consciousness versus unconsciousness demonstrates the paralyzing virus for government and cultural conformity that is overly analytical thinking. The underground man is tormented by hyperconscious thinking. He describes his thought process as being “in accordance with the normal fundamental laws of hyperacute consciousness… and that consequently [he] was not only incapable of changing,… half of the paper… n argument commonly stated by communism is that in a competitive society citizens of a higher class and rank end up having more freedom than citizens of a lower class. The Underground Man states that he “may degrade and defile [himself] but [he is] no one's slave. [he] comes and goes, and that's the end... but [Liza is] a slave from the beginning. Yes, a slave! [She] gives up everything, [her] entire freedom” (631). The Underground Man suggests that poverty itself does not force one to be in debt and a slave to society, it is a personal choice to fall into the conformity of one's class. He admits that he himself is subject to poverty and misfortune; however, he does not allow himself to accept the predetermined role of a common lazy beggar, but instead insists on being an individual. Even though he is spiteful and unhappy, he maintains his revenge.