White Nights (Fyodor Dostoevsky)

I’ve always believed that it’s nearly impossible to express deep emotions with words. I tend to overexplain when I want to make sure others understand where I’m coming from. But sometimes, I just give up because no matter how much I explain, words can’t capture the feeling.

Dostoevsky proved me wrong. When I first picked up White Nights, I thought, How could he convey everything in few pages? I was skeptical. But when he describes his history to Nastenka, I was dead. Hell!

I never knew loneliness could be expressed so deeply. The way he describes emotions, even in third-person, pulls you into his world. The rollercoaster of emotions in just 76 pages still stays with me. N number of times, the name was mentioned.

Some of his lines, especially, struck me:

One could not help asking oneself whether ill humored and capricious people could live under such a sky.

Nothing else! Why, is not that enough for you, you insatiable person?

Because he is the artist of his own life, and creates it for himself every hour to suit his latest within.

One deceives oneself and unconsciously believes that real true passion is stirring one’s soul, one unconsciously believes that there is something living, tangible in one’s immaterial dreams! And is it delusion?

I do not blame you because I have no power over your heart, such is my fate!

Let them flow, let them flow, they don’t hurt anybody. They will dry.

Oh, if only he were you, echoed in my mind.

I saw myself just as I was now, fifteen years hence, older, in the same room, just as solitary

Is that too little for the whole of a man’s life?

Now, I understand, why people quote him rather than expressing themselves!

Cheers!

PS: Loved the name, Nastenka!

Check out the other post Home

If you like what you see and wish to support my work, then

Share your thoughts/suggestion at the comment section or mail at

randomwhyss[@]gmail[dot]com

Don’t miss out! Get notified about new blog posts straight to your inbox !

(No spam, pinky promise!)

Enter your mail to receive updates