"White Nights" by Dostoevsky: a summary and analysis

"White nights" of Dostoevsky belong to the genre of a sentimental novel. The composition of the work is of considerable interest to researchers: the novel consists of several short stories, each of which narrates about one romantic night from the life of the main character.

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The novel "White Nights" by Dostoevsky is conducted on behalf of a young man who calls himself a "dreamer". Like in many other works of the great Russian novelist, the action takes place in St. Petersburg: the dreamer has lived here for eight years, takes a small room, goes to the service. He has absolutely no friends, in his spare time the young man prefers to wander alone through the streets, peering at houses. Once on the embankment he notices a girl pursued by an obsessive lord. Pitying the sobbing stranger, the dreamer drives the tipsy dandy and escorts her home.

Image system

In the novel "White Nights" by Dostoevsky, the literary critics distinguish two central characters: the narrator and Nastenka. She is a lively, spontaneous and trustful girl, she tells the dreamer the simple story of her life: after the death of her parents, the girl lived with a blind grandmother, who was so concerned about her morality that she had pinned her skirt with a pin to her dress. The life of both women changed when they had a guest. Nastia fell in love with him, but he talked himself out of poverty and promised to marry her in a year, after which he disappeared.

Decoupling

The "white nights" of Dostoevsky end in the best traditions of the author of the "Pentateuch": the dreamer, speaking in the role of a noble lover, is summoned to personally hand over Nastenka's letter to her artful lover, but he does not answer. Young people are going to bind themselves by marriage. However, if in the finale the hero was all right, it would not be Dostoevsky. "White Nights" end as follows: during the walk, Nastya meets the former tenant; It turns out that he never forgot a girl. Lovers reunite, and the romantic, magical nights of the dreamer are replaced by a gloomy, rainy morning.

Main character

As for the dreamer's image, we should say the following about him: a lonely, proud, subtle young man, capable of profound experiences. He as it opens a whole gallery of such characters from the great Russian novelist. The image of the dreamer can be considered autobiographical: Dostoevsky hides behind him. "On the one hand," the writer declares, "fictional life leads away from genuine reality, but how great is its creative value, but in the end, only this one matters."

"White Nights", Dostoevsky: summary

In short, the novel is a story of unfulfilled love: the hero is ready to give everything for the sake of his beloved girl, but when his victim turns out to be unnecessary, the dreamer does not become angry, does not curse fate and those around him. He with a smile blesses Nastenka for her new life, the youth's love is as pure and clear as the white nights. Like many of Dostoevsky's early works, "White Nights" in many ways continue the tradition of sentimentalism.