Review: White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

A lonely man wanders the streets of Saint Petersburg, Russia, during the city’s “white nights,” when the sun barely sets. This ethereal setting mirrors the restless, dreamy, and isolated nature of the narrator, who forms imaginary connections with people and buildings in the absence of real human relationships.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky manuscript and drawing

His solitude is disrupted when he meets a young woman named Nastenka. Over several nights, they share their personal stories, and the narrator is particularly enthusiastic, having been starved of genuine conversation for an immeasurable amount of time. Nastenka shares a similar zeal, but she issues a warning: setting the stage for the bittersweet dynamic that unfolds.

“Don’t fall in love with me. I tell you beforehand,” 

This short story takes readers on an incredibly intimate journey through the narrator’s profound loneliness and longing. While his depth of isolation may not resonate with everyone, Dostoevsky’s mastery lies in his ability to orchestrate strong emotional responses, making the narrator’s experiences feel universally human.

Dialogue and speech dominate much of the story, creating a personal connection between readers and the characters. The exchanges between the narrator and Nastenka feel authentic and vulnerable, drawing readers into their fleeting relationship. Dostoevsky uses this intimacy to explore themes such as the fragility of love, the ease with which connections form and dissolve, and the pain of unfulfilled desires.

The dynamics between the narrator and Nastenka reveal much about their contrasting natures. The narrator, an idealist lost in his fantasies, contrasts sharply with Nastenka, who is both candid and grounded. Her character invites intriguing feminist readings—she is forthright about her desires and boundaries, asserting her agency despite being physically and emotionally “pinned” to her grandmother and her home. It is in these interactions where Nastenka grasps power and explores her emotions.

The setting of Saint Petersburg during the “white nights” is more than just a backdrop; it amplifies the dreamlike quality of the story and serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of the narrator and Nastenka’s connection—a bright, temporary moment that cannot last.

This story offers a poignant meditation on love, loneliness, and human vulnerability, leaving readers with much to reflect upon long after its final page. I would recommend this for anyone who wishes to get into Russian Literature but cannot find footing in the density of other novels such as Crime and Punishment as it captures the emotionality of other works in very few pages that will leave a reader prepared for more complex works. 

Written by Mariam Rahimi

Photo Credit: https://itoldya420.getarchive.net/amp/media/fyodor-dostoyevsky-manuscript-and-drawing-23-27ea02