White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky – A Tapestry of Love

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Okay. Before you read this, just a heads-up — White Nights is my very first Fyodor Dostoevsky read. So if my thoughts come off a little unusual, please bear with me. 😅

I know Dostoevsky is known for his dark and heavy themes, but while reading White Nights, I found myself drawn to something else — the quiet, aching presence of love. And that's the theme I chose to explore and reflect on in this article.

Let me know in the comments if you agree or see it differently — I'd really love to hear your thoughts! 😊

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What is love?

Haven’t we all asked this question at some point in our lives?

If you're searching for an answer, White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a novella that explores love in its many shades.

Dostoevsky masterfully paints different forms of love through his characters, each expressing it in their own way.

1. The Narrator’s Love for St. Petersburg

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The first kind of love in White Nights is not romantic but rather an intimate bond between the narrator and the city of St. Petersburg. He loves the city so much that when people leave for their summer holidays, he feels utterly alone. Even the mere act of his favorite building changing color—from pink to yellow—fills him with sadness.

“I was acquainted with all Petersburg as it was, that was why I felt as though they were all deserting me when all of Petersburg packed up and went to its summer villa.”

“they of course, don’t know me, but I know them intimately. I have almost made a study of their faces and am delighted when they are gay, and downcast when they are under a cloud.”

Screenshot from Everand by the author

2. The Grandmother’s Love for Nastenka

Many might argue whether this was love or control, but considering the period White Nights was written in, Nastenka’s grandmother genuinely believed she was protecting her. Blind and unable to watch over her granddaughter, she pinned Nastenka to herself—perhaps the only way she knew how to keep her safe.

3. Nastenka’s Love for Her Grandmother

Despite her confinement, Nastenka never hated her grandmother. She respected and loved her, even though she longed for freedom.

4. The Lodger’s Love for Nastenka

The lodger's love is a complex one—built on pity, empathy, and perhaps an obligation to care. He understands Nastenka’s situation, and she, in turn, finds comfort in being seen and understood. Her love for him grows as he continues to show kindness toward her.

5. The Narrator’s Love for Nastenka

The most heartbreaking love of all—the narrator’s love for Nastenka—is sacrificial, unconditional, and brotherly. He listens to her stories about the lodger, delivers her love letter, and never once pressures her to reciprocate his feelings. His love is selfless, one that seeks her happiness even at the cost of his own.

“If only I could love you both at once. Oh, if only he were you.”

Nastenka recognizes the narrator’s goodness and even wonders why the lodger is not like him. Yet, her love for him is not the same as what she feels for the lodger.

Who ends up with whom?

I won’t spoil it for you, but White Nights left me pondering:

• Should we love at all or guard our hearts?

• Should we choose the love that brings us comfort or the one that ignites passion?

This novella is a melancholic yet beautiful journey through love in its many forms. One thing is certain—I will be rereading it.