Poor Folk Novel

By Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Synopsis

The story sets in St. Petersburg, Russia where two bright and introspective individuals living in difficult circumstances in 19th century. Makar Alexeievitch Devushkin is an old servant who will soon in retirement and Varvara Alexeievna Dobrossiélova is a low-paid seamstress who lives a few blocks away. Makar is deeply in love with Barbara, but Barbara never confesses her love for him nor she encourages the generous gifts Makar bestows upon her with whatever he has and at times depriving himself of his basic needs, yet she never refuses him entirely. Makar consistently tries to win Barbara's hand even when he knows deep inside that he would eventually lose his side. Barbara goes on to marry Monsieur Bwikov whom she has no particular affection to, still takes such a decision to drift herself away from poverty. Makar even knowing Barbara's decision asks her to right back may be for one last time...

Bookie Cookie Opinion

Poor Folk, is the debut novel of Russian literary Fyodor Dostoevsky, and was first published in Russia in 1846. It was my first Dostoyevsky novel as well. This novel was written in an epistolary work. It consists of a series of letters exchanged between which portrays how poverty instills piety and sanctity in the human soul. Dostoyevsky paints a portrait of how poor people stay devoted in preserving their dignity in the midst of poverty and the struggle for survival.  

'These are people,' Dostoevsky tells us, who are 'respected by no one, not even by themselves'. They are infatuated with one another, but are too poor to marry. Rather, they live in small apartments opposite one another. We are witness to their back and forth of letters, and the unfolding correspondence which lets us learn about both protagonists. We are party to the workings of their minds, and their deepest thoughts and questions about one another. Barbara writes the following to Devushkin, for instance

"what has made you go and take the room which you have done, where you will be worried and disturbed, and where you have neither elbow-space nor comfort - you who love solitude, and never like to have any one near you?"

Poor Folk begins on April the 8th, and continues in different letters by both characters, until ending in the September of the same year. The letters are variant in length, and are all suffused with differing levels of love and despair, as well as the emergence of hope at intervals. Dostoevsky's prose is gorgeously rich, and has a very modern feel to it. The characters alter as their circumstances do; they have been so well built, and their shifting relationship too feels true to life.

The important thing to take a note is that Makar Devushkin is an extremely lonely, meek victim of his circumstances. He has low self-esteem, and like many a poor person, is at times susceptible to vices that would normally be contrary to his nature. Varvara is dear to Makar, as she gives him an opportunity to love and to feel like a human being. Makar is dear to Varvara, as he is a pure soul in a world of wicked and abusive people. 

As with all of Dostoevsky's work, Poor People is filled with beauty and passion; realistic characters are at its heart. Dostoevsky is one of my favourite authors, and I am always immediately captivated by his thoughts and stories. My experience was no different here; for those who already love Russian literature put it on your book list.

Happy Reading 📖