With this novel, Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky began his literary work. “Poor people” was an unprecedented success and completely justified all the hopes of a young, previously unknown author. Dostoevsky wrote this novel with such enthusiasm and attentive scrupulousness, for which in the future he never had time.
About the work "Poor People"
The first mention of "Poor people" is found in the correspondence of Dostoevsky with his brother Michael in September 1844. The writer informed his brother that he was pleased with the novel and graduated in May 1845.
This novel is presented to the reader in the form of correspondence between two congenial people. Their relationship lasts from April to September and consists of 54 letters that they wrote to each other. Each letter in the work is a separate chapter from which the reader learns something new about the fate of the heroes of the novel.
In Poor People, the writer stops at the lowest rung of the social ladder and talks about the poor, but only in order to more accurately look into the depths of evil. The theme of poverty and poverty is not the main one in the novel; it implies a wider social problem. Actually therefore, the work speaks not only of unsecured people, but also of every person who, according to Dostoevsky, is always "poor in spirit", despite his material security.
The main characters of the work
The main characters of the novel "Poor People" are representatives of the lower classes of St. Petersburg, who make futile attempts to break out of their plight.
Makar Alekseevich Devushkin is a titular adviser of forty-seven years. He earns a living by copying papers in one of the city’s departments and receives a mere penny for his work.
Varvara Alekseevna Dobroselova is a young educated girl, an orphan, a distant relative of Makar Alekseevich. She is also poor and lives in the same courtyard with Devokhin. She earns a living by sewing.
Summary of the novel
Makar Alekseevich moves to a new apartment, which he rents in a house near Fontanka. In pursuit of cheap housing, our hero is placed in a corner behind a partition located in a shared kitchen. His former home was not much better, but now the main thing for Makar Alekseevich is the price, since in the same courtyard, with windows opposite, he rented a comfortable apartment for Varvara Alekseevna Dobroselova.
Makar Alekseevich takes custody of the seventeen-year-old Varenka. Devushkin feels fatherly love for Varenka. Living close to each other, they are very rare, because Makar Alekseevich is not afraid for himself, of course, but about obscene gossip about Varenka’s reputation. However, both have a need for emotional compassion, compassion and warmth, which are found in everyday correspondence with each other.
The girl assures Varia that he has the means. As evidence, he often spoils her with sweets, sends her flowers in pots, while denying himself food and clothing. Varenka reproaches him for excessive wastefulness, trying to earn money by sewing. The girl is carefully interested in the life and life of Makar Alekseevich, despite her poor health.
Together with the next letter, Varenka sends Makar Alekseevich a diary with a description of his past. In it, Varya describes her childhood spent in the province, studying in a boarding house. After the death of the girl’s father, the creditors seized their home. Varya and her mother did not have money to rent another house, and they were forced to move to "gray" and "rainy" Petersburg to Anna Fedorovna (landowner and distant relative of their family). Anna Fyodorovna, seeing the plight of unhappy women, began to constantly reproach them with her good deeds.
Vary's mother worked tirelessly, not sparing her poor health. At that time, Varya took lessons from a former student Pyotr Pokrovsky, who also lived in the house of Anna Fedorovna. From overwork, Varenka’s mother falls ill. Peter Pokrovsky takes part in Varin misfortune, and together they look after a sick woman. This circumstance brings young people together and friendship arises between them. However, Peter gets sick and dies of consumption. Soon, Vary's mother also dies.
In a response letter, Makar Alekseevich tells about his difficult life. He has been serving in the department for thirty years. For his colleagues, he is “humble”, “quiet” and “good-natured”, and is also the object of incessant ridicule. His only joy is the "angel" Varenka.
In the next letter, Varia informs Makar Alekseevich that during her stay with Anna Fyodorovna, she, to cover the losses from Varya and her mother, suggested to Varia, an orphaned landowner at that time, Mr. Bykov. Bykov, who promised to marry Vara, dishonored her, as a result of which the girl was disgraced and hastily left this house. Only the support of Makar Alekseevich saves the poor orphan from the final "fall".
In June, Devushkin invites Varia to take a walk on the islands. After the walk, Varya caught a cold and was unable to work. To help Varenka, Makar Alekseevich sells his uniform and takes all the earnings in the department a month in advance. Varenka does not want to be a burden for Devushkin, guessing that he spent all his money on it. She decides to engage in governesses, but he discourages her.
By the middle of summer, Devushkin spent all possible means. He walks in rags, constantly hearing behind him the ridicule of his work colleagues and tenants over him and his Varenka. But all this is nothing, and the worst thing is that one officer with an “obscene proposal” began to come to his “angel”. Out of hopelessness and despair, poor Makar Alekseevich drank four days and did not go to service. He also wanted to inform the impudent officer, but he threw him down the stairs.
In August, a new misfortune awaits our heroes. A second “seeker” comes to Vara, who was sent by Anna Fedorovna herself. Devushkin understands that Varenka urgently needs to move to a new apartment. In this regard, he wants to borrow money at interest, but no one gives him. Realizing his helplessness, Makar Alekseevich drunk again, losing his last self-respect. Varenka’s health is very poor; she cannot sew.
In early September, Makar Alekseevich was lucky: he made a mistake in paper and was called “to talk” to the general himself. He, having seen such a miserable official, sympathized with Devushkin and gave him a hundred rubles. This inspired hope in Makar Alekseevich and became a real salvation. He paid for an apartment, a table and bought clothes.
On September 20, Bykov became aware of Varenka’s place of residence, and he came to marry her. He needed to have a family and legitimate children, in order to leave his hated nephew without inheritance. Despite the insolence and rudeness of this proposal, Varya agrees to marry Bykov. She believes that marriage will return her honest name and save her from disgusting poverty. Devushkin tries to dissuade her from this step, but, nevertheless, helps her get ready for the trip and get ready for the wedding.
Before leaving on the estate to Bykov, Varenka sends the last farewell letter to his friend. Varya writes that she loved Makar Alekseevich very much, and in spite of everything, she will pray and think about him. September 30 Varya is married to Bykov, and they leave St. Petersburg.
The Devil's answer is full of despair. Makar Alekseevich writes to Varenka that this marriage will destroy her, and he will die from despondency and sadness. At this, their correspondence ceases.
