Summary of the novel by F. M. Dostoevsky "White Nights"

On the first night, the reader is introduced to the main character, a poor official for about 30 years. He has been living in the cultural capital for 8 years, but still does not make friends by interests. In his free time he dreams, walking along the streets of St. Petersburg. He does not think about anything, does not set goals and lives in gloom. Feels dreary as everyone turned away. The house seems cold and dull, so he does not like to return there.

A dreamer likes to walk around the city, meeting with different people sights. However, during the white nights everyone left and he is more lonely than ever, wandering in silence along a deserted street. But outside the city, the mood is improving. He rejoices that spring comes and sees people again. Returning back to the city, the mood worsens.

Upon returning home the night the hero wanders along the channel and meets a sad pretty girl. The guy wants to calm her down, but she gets scared and runs away from her. The dreamer runs after her, wishing he could meet her. Here he is helped by a local drunken tramp, who pestering the girl. Then the dreamer intervenes for her and they get to know each other.

Heroes talk on the way home to a stranger. He admits that for the first time in his life he met a woman. This surprises the stranger and she believes him. The hero begs to see her again and invites to a date and the girl responds positively, but asks that this was not a romantic meeting and that the hero does not fall in love with her.

On the second night, the dreamer awaits a date with the girl. During the meeting, the man learns the details of the girl’s personal life, that her name is Nastya and she lives with a blinded grandmother who does not let her go for a walk and meet with young people. After the story of Nastya, the hero tells his own that he lives with dreams and understands the futility of his ghostly world. He says that he understands that it’s impossible to live like that, because his best years and real life are leaving, that he wants to find a soul mate, but he has no friends, no half. The girl mercifully becomes a boyfriend’s friend. Then she tells the story of how she once deceived her grandmother and slipped out of the house, but she stopped her attempt to get freedom and now restricts the girl’s movement even more. It also tells about the meeting of the new tenant and how she disgraced herself in front of a pretty young man on the first day of meeting.

Then Nastya tells how the guest began to look after the girl and gradually free her from her grandmother’s dependence. So, she fell in love with a young man, but was afraid of the non-reciprocity of these feelings. Her fears began to grow even more when he said that he was leaving for Moscow for a year. Then she resolutely took her things to his room. The man was embarrassed and depressed. Then the girl cried desperately and swore love for him, he comforted her and promised to marry a year later, when he returned. The young agreed that in a year they would meet on the embankment at 10 a.m. It was then that the dreamer met Nastenka. She knew that her lover was in the city, but did not want to meet her.

The dreamer volunteered to help Nastya and take her love letter. Nastya was beside herself with happiness and said that she would be very glad if the hero brought the news to him.

On the third night, the hero takes the letter to the address. Nastya is very pleased with the outcome of the matter and is already making grandiose plans for life. However, the dreamer realizes that he is in love with a girl and he is bitter from unrequited feelings. Beloved does not answer the letter and is not at the meeting place. The girl is upset by this situation. But the dreamer convinces her that perhaps her beloved has not received the letter and will definitely meet with him tomorrow. Nastya says that her new friend should see if her lover comes tomorrow, because if it rains, she will not be able to do it herself.

On the fourth white night, it rained all day. The man fulfilled the request and expected that Nastya would come. But, she, as promised, did not come. The tenant did not give an answer. Therefore, the heroine became discouraged. He announces that he will not seek meetings with the one who deceived her, and does not feel trembling feelings for him.

After that, the hero decides to confess his love to the girl. He expected a speedy breakup because of a confession, but Nastya forgives him and claims that he will soon fall in love with the young man, because he is beautiful. Nastya offers a new lover to become a member of their family, he gladly responds with consent. Now both are thinking about marriage and living together. However, their plans were not destined to come true. By this time the guest came. The girl throws herself into his arms from happiness and the dreamer bitterly watches their happiness.

In the morning, the hero feels unwell due to a broken heart, receives a note from Nastya, where she asks for forgiveness and thanks him for participating in her fate. He also indicates that in 7 days he will be the guest’s wife and wants both men to make friends. The dreamer feels very ill, but is grateful to his beloved, who was able to make happy for a short while.