INTRODUCTION
Everyone thinks that classics are boring; they drag on and on about trivial topics and are rarely entertaining to read. Nevertheless, they are beneficial to read. Especially if one wishes to improve upon their overall literacy and critical thinking skills, which are blatantly lacking in our modern age (in my opinion).
I decided I wanted to read a short classical novella, White Nights, by a widely regarded philosopher: Fyodor Dostoevsky. Before even reading it, I knew it was going to be depressing and quite possibly irritating. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I was able to connect to this story set in 1840s Petersburg.
Presently, I wish to detail the story in a short summary in my own words, and then I will make my analysis based on a modern perspective regarding the message.
SUMMARY
White Nights is told from the first-person perspective of a man called the dreamer. He is detailing, in a diary type writing, how he meets a woman named Nastenka. Within the first night, he saves her from a man who attempts to take her off the street. They quickly begin to get to know each other, and the dreamer begs to see her again the next day to continue talking with her. Nastenka agrees, but only due to her having a previous appointment the next day at the same place.
During the second night, they meet up again and tell each other stories of their “histories.” The dreamer talks about how he has had no life due to his personality, and Nastenka talks about how she also has not had a life due to her upbringing. Nastenka additionally adds that she is waiting for a man whom she loves to come back for her.
By the third and fourth night, both of them are building up plans to get a letter to Nastenka’s man. Despite that, the dreamer finds himself falling in love with Nastenka. At the end of the story, Nastenka’s man is able to come back for her, leaving the dreamer feeling isolated once again.
ANALYSIS
On the surface, this story seemed like a cliche “friend zone” situation, where the guy is mad that he cannot date the girl. Personally, I hate this disparaging mindset for many reasons. Though the main reason is that it devalues the inherent importance of true friendship and platonic relationships in exchange for an over-idealized, romantic one.
However, upon reflection, I stumbled upon the notion that this story was actually in agreement with me. The first example of this agreement is when the dreamer tells his story of when he feels incapable of living in real life due to his full commitment to his dreams. This deeply resonates with Nastenka:
“Listen; I am a simple girl, I have not had much education, though my grandmother did get a teacher for me, but truly I understand you, for all that you have described.”
Both the dreamer and Nastenka have this shared conflict that results in them connecting and forming a bond. Funnily enough, this bond ends up helping both of them in their respective conflicts. The dreamer becomes aware of this and thanks Nastenka:
“Ah, Nastenka! Why, one thanks some people for being alive at the same time with one; I thank you for having met me, for being able to remember you all my life!”
Thus, the story never lets us fully see the dreamer’s infatuation with Nastenka as rational. Instead, it puts an emphasis on how he values his basic human connection with Nastenka and is willing to help her on her journey as long as he gets to be a part of it. Rarely have I seen stories with this set-up play out like this, and when the dreamer confesses his love for Nastenka, he is not trying to convince her:
“Listen, my friend—for any way you are my friend—I am, of course, a poor, humble man, of no great consequence; but that’s not the point (I don’t seem to be able to say what I mean, Nastenka, I am so confused), only I would love you, I would love you so, that even if you still loved him, even if you went on loving the man I don’t know, you would never feel that my love was a burden to you.”
With this statement, the story does not try to devalue their friendship, which is the basis of their connection. Instead, it gives the full range of human emotion and experiences its due. By calling her his friend, he confirms that he loves her and their relationship in its entirety.
Ultimately, there is nothing wrong with the dreamer falling in love with Nastenka, but he had to realize his idealisation of her was not reality. She was in love with another man, and there was nothing that was going to change that. Still, that does not make their time together wasted, as he inadvertently admits when calling her his friend.
CONCLUSION
In my experience, aside from the book, people tend to frame romance as a goal or as a ‘level-up’ from friendship. I hate this belief with a passion because romance is not the end-all, be-all of human connection; it is just different. Not only that, but sometimes romance and friendship blend together, and to compare the two or put brackets up is to limit yourself. Hence, Nastenka and the dreamer might have lost the possibility of being together, but that does not mean they got less out of their relationship.
Reading this story was very eye opening, and I greatly enjoyed analyzing all the various interpretations that can be taken from it. Especially since it means I can hone my critical thinking skills. If anyone wishes to do the same, I greatly recommend White Nights.
