The unnamed protagonist of the novella, who is introduced as “representative of the current generation.” He is sick, spiteful, self-contradictory, and pessimistic, and his rambling thoughts and monologues make up the majority of the novella…
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The Officer
In part one, the underground man tries to get into a bar fight, and he steps in an officer’s way. The officer, though, merely moves him aside without saying anything, practically ignoring him. The underground…
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Zverkov
One of the underground man’s former schoolmates, an attractive and popular man whom the underground man particularly dislikes for his bragging and stories of romantic exploits. Simonov, Ferfichkin, and Trudolyubov throw Zverkov a…
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Simonov
One of the underground man’s former schoolmates, whose apartment he visits one night when he feels lonely. Simonov, Ferfichkin, and Trudolyubov are planning a going-away party for Zverkov, and the underground man invites…
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Ferfichkin
One of the underground man’s former schoolmates, whom he sees at Simonov’s apartment and at Zverkov’s going-away party. Ferfichkin was the underground man’s “bitterest enemy” in school, where he was a show-off. After the underground…
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A prostitute whom the underground man sleeps with after following Zverkov to a brothel. The underground man is disgusted with having had loveless sex with her and talks to her about her pathetic situation as…
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Apollon
The underground man’s defiant, disobedient servant. The underground man tries to exercise his power over Apollon by withholding his wages and forcing him to ask for the money. However, Apollon merely stares at the underground…
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Minor Characters
Anton Antonych Setochkin
The underground man’s boss, from whom he borrows money multiple times.
Trudolyubov
One of the underground man’s former schoolmates, whom he sees at Simonov’s apartment and at Zverkov’s going-away party. The underground man says that Trudolyubov habitually treated him “as a nonentity.”