Resurrection from the Underground Book Summary

In 'Resurrection from the Underground', René Girard explores the intricate relationship between desire and violence, dissecting human behavior through the lens of literary analysis. He argues that our desires are not autonomous but rather shaped by the desires of others, leading to inevitable rivalries and conflict. Girard delves into the implications of this mimetic desire, suggesting it can either lead to destruction or ultimately to redemption through understanding and sacrifice. The book intertwines philosophy, psychology, and theology, challenging readers to rethink the foundations of societal norms and personal relationships. With profound insights and a provocative examination of the human condition, Girard invites us to confront the shadows of our desires and the path to genuine resurrection.

By René Girard

Published: 2012

""In the depths of despair, we often find the truest reflection of our desires and fears, revealing the intricate dance between sacrifice and salvation that defines the human experience.""

Book Review of Resurrection from the Underground

In a fascinating analysis of critical themes in Feodor Dostoevsky’s work, René Girard explores the implications of the Russian author’s “underground,” a site of isolation, alienation, and resentment. Brilliantly translated, this book is a testament to Girard’s remarkable engagement with Dostoevsky’s work, through which he discusses numerous aspects of the human condition, including desire, which Girard argues is “triangular” or “mimetic”—copied from models or mediators whose objects of desire become our own. Girard’s interdisciplinary approach allows him to shed new light on religion, spirituality, and redemption in Dostoevsky’s writing, culminating in a revelatory discussion of the author’s spiritual understanding and personal integration. Resurrection is an essential and thought-provoking companion to Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground.

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"In the depths of despair, we often find the truest reflection of our desires and fears, revealing the intricate dance between sacrifice and salvation that defines the human experience."

Resurrection from the Underground

By René Girard