Poor Folk Summary

 

Written over nine months from 1844 to 1845, Poor Folk is Fyodor Dostoevsky’s first novel. During this time, Dostoevsky was struggling with money because of his extravagant spending and growing addiction to gambling. The novel is written in the form of letters exchanged between two main characters, second cousins Makar Devushkin and Varvara Dobroselova. The story focuses on the struggles of poor people and their interactions with the rich. Both Devushkin and Dobroselova live in poverty, and through their letters, they form a deep bond. However, their connection weakens when Dobroselova loses interest in literature and stops writing to Devushkin after receiving a marriage proposal from a wealthy widower, Mr. Bykov. Devushkin believes that he can survive without money, but not without literature.

The novel consists of detailed letters between Devushkin and Dobroselova, where they complain about their harsh living conditions and the difficulty of escaping poverty. Devushkin often spends his small earnings to buy gifts for Dobroselova, hoping to bring her some happiness.

As the story progresses, we learn more about the past of these two cousins. Dobroselova once lived in the countryside but moved to St. Petersburg after her father lost his job. She hates the city and longs for the peaceful life she had before. After losing his job, her father became violent, and her mother fell into a deep depression. Eventually, her father died, leaving Dobroselova and her mother with no choice but to live with Anna Fyodorovna, a landlady who had treated them badly in the past but now pretends to care about them.

Dobroselova was tutored by a poor student named Pokrovsky. Over time, they developed feelings for each other. She saved up money to buy him a collection of Pushkin’s works as a birthday gift but allowed his father to give him the books instead, feeling happy just knowing that he received them. Tragically, Pokrovsky fell ill and died, and shortly after, Dobroselova’s mother passed away as well. Left alone with Anna Fyodorovna, she endured abuse until she could no longer bear it and moved in with a kind woman named Fedora who lived across the street.

Devushkin works as a copyist and is constantly mocked by his colleagues. His clothes are tattered and dirty, and his living conditions are even worse than Dobroselova’s. He sees himself as insignificant, like a rat in society. Through their letters and occasional visits, which are only hinted at but not described in detail, Devushkin and Dobroselova share their pain and support each other. They also exchange books, finding comfort in literature.

Dobroselova considers moving to a different part of the city to work as a governess, but without money, she cannot leave. She injures her hand, preventing her from sewing, which is her only way of making a living. Meanwhile, Devushkin’s situation becomes unbearable. Dobroselova sends him some money, but he spends it on alcohol. He later makes a mistake at work and is summoned by his boss. Seeing Devushkin’s miserable condition, the superior is moved and gives him one hundred rubles along with a handshake. These small acts of kindness restore Devushkin’s self-worth. With renewed hope, he begins to do better at work and in his rooming house. He pays off his debts and even sends some money to Dobroselova, but she returns it, insisting that she does not need his help. Feeling hopeful about the future, Devushkin starts saving money and even dreams about the possibility of living together with Dobroselova.

However, soon after, Dobroselova reveals that a rich man named Mr. Bykov, an acquaintance of Anna Fyodorovna and Pokrovsky’s father, has proposed to her. She accepts the proposal and prepares to leave with him. In the final letters, Dobroselova gradually adjusts to her new life with wealth. She becomes busy preparing for an extravagant wedding and assigns Devushkin various small tasks, such as buying linen for her. She starts talking about luxurious things but eventually leaves Devushkin behind, even though his life is improving.

In the last exchange of letters, Devushkin pleads with Dobroselova to keep writing to him. She replies with a short message, saying, "all is over" and asking him not to forget her. In his final letter, Devushkin tells her that he loves her and that he feels as though he will die now that she is gone.

Themes and Social Critique

Dostoevsky’s Poor Folk is an early example of Russian social realism, exploring themes such as:

Poverty and Class Struggle: The novel vividly portrays the suffering of the lower class, showing how financial hardship dictates the lives and fates of individuals. Both Makar Devushkin and Varvara Dobroselova struggle with poverty, which ultimately shapes their relationship and destinies.

The Power of Literature and Intellectual Pursuits: Literature serves as a source of comfort and connection for both characters, especially Devushkin, who believes he can live without money but not without books. However, Dobroselova’s gradual detachment from literature symbolizes her shift toward material security over intellectual and emotional fulfillment.

Love vs. Survival: Devushkin's self-sacrificing affection for Dobroselova is contrasted with her decision to marry Bykov for financial security. The novel critiques a society in which love is often overridden by economic necessity.

Dignity and Self-Worth: Devushkin is mocked and humiliated in his workplace, but small gestures of kindness, like his boss giving him money and shaking his hand, restore his self-esteem. His character arc shows how external validation can impact one's sense of self.

The City as a Symbol of Alienation: St. Petersburg, with its harsh, dehumanizing environment, exacerbates the characters’ suffering. The city represents both opportunity and oppression, trapping people like Devushkin and Dobroselova in cycles of poverty.

Structure and Epistolary Form

The novel is written as an exchange of letters, which:

Creates an intimate look into the characters' emotions, thoughts, and hardships.

Highlights the contrast between their perspectives—Devushkin’s idealism vs. Dobroselova’s growing pragmatism.

Serves as a metaphor for isolation, as their only real connection is through writing, rather than direct, sustained interaction.

Character Analysis

Makar Devushkin: A poor copyist with a kind heart, he represents the struggling lower class. He views himself as insignificant but finds purpose in his relationship with Dobroselova and literature. His tragic flaw is his idealism—he believes in love and literature as salvation, but in the end, he is left alone and devastated.

Varvara Dobroselova: She is more pragmatic than Devushkin. Though she initially shares his love for books, she gradually prioritizes financial security over emotional attachment. Her decision to marry Bykov reflects her resignation to the harsh realities of poverty.

Mr. Bykov: A rich widower who offers Dobroselova stability. He symbolizes the power of wealth in controlling people's lives and decisions.

Anna Fyodorovna: A hypocritical landlady who pretends to care for Dobroselova but is ultimately exploitative. She represents the cruelty of society toward the vulnerable.

Pokrovsky: A poor student and Dobroselova’s first love, his early death foreshadows the harsh fate awaiting many who struggle against poverty.

The Ending and Its Significance

Dobroselova’s final words—“all is over”—are a stark contrast to Devushkin’s desperate longing. Her departure represents the final break between emotion and survival, literature and materialism. Devushkin’s last letter, in which he declares his love and sense of doom, encapsulates the tragic fate of those left behind by a world that prioritizes wealth over human connection.

Dostoevsky’s Literary Evolution

While Poor Folk is not as philosophically complex as Crime and Punishment or The Brothers Karamazov, it introduces many of Dostoevsky’s lifelong themes: the struggle of the poor, the psychological depth of characters, and the exploration of human suffering. His later works would develop these themes in greater depth, but Poor Folk already establishes his concern with the social and emotional consequences of poverty.

So, Poor Folk is not just a story about financial hardship—it is an exploration of how poverty shapes identity, relationships, and self-worth. Through its epistolary form, psychological depth, and social critique, Dostoevsky’s debut novel sets the stage for his later masterpieces. The tragic ending reinforces the idea that in a world dictated by wealth and class, love and literature are often casualties of survival.