(302 words) “Poor People” - the first novel by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, entailing the success of the writer and positive reviews from famous critics. The peculiarity of the work is that it is written in the epistolary genre. It was this book that later became an example for many writers. Varvara Dobroselova is the central image in the novel, which replenished the Russian gallery of female images, becoming an original and in its own way unique type in Russian literature. This heroine is an example of a strong woman with a good soul, but, unfortunately, broken by circumstances.
The happiest time in life, according to the girl, is her carefree childhood in the village, where she felt a reunion with nature and parental warmth. Further, the fate of the heroine develops tragically: having lost her father and mother early, having experienced violence and betrayal, the girl is forced to live alone and destitute. But terrible events do not make her callous: she is still gentle and beautiful in her soul. Varenka is modest and unsociable, she is saved from loneliness by correspondence with a distant relative and another Makar Devushin. The heroine receives modest gifts and financial assistance from him, for which she feels guilty, but in view of the plight, she cannot refuse. This indicates its decency and lack of commercialism. She has warm feelings for Makar, occasionally meets with him and thanks for the care, but his love cannot be shared. A truly strong and bright feeling of love is felt by Varvara for a young student, Pyotr Pokrovsky, who discovered the wonderful world of literature. Thanks to him, the girl discovered in herself talent, intelligence and other positive qualities. But here she is deprived of hope for a brighter future, since her lover is dying of illness. Soon Varenka’s health becomes very weak, and she has to accept the humiliating marriage proposal from the landowner Bykov.
In Varenka Dobroselova, the image of a small man, humiliated, doomed to difficult trials by fate and helpless in the injustice of life, is enclosed. Despite this, the heroine did not lose her dignity to the very end, she was hardworking and hardy as much as she could. She turned out to be the most decent and strong personality among all the heroes of the novel.
