«Gentle and kindly creatures don't put up much resistance and, though they may not reveal much of themselves, they have no idea of how to evade a conversation: they are sparing in their replies but they do reply, and the longer it goes on, the more you learn, but you have to keep at it, if that's what you're after.» (Chapter One, I: Who I Was and Who She Was) ~ «… Those hardened in depravity, on the other hand, always play things down; their actions are more vile, but are clothed in propriety and a show of decency, which claims a superiority over your own.» (Ch. One, V: The Gentle Creature Rebels) ~ [All of the English quotations were taken from Alan Myers translation, "A Gentle Creature"] ~ #Finished: #UysalKız (translated to English as #AGentleCreature and #TheMeekOne) by #FyodorDostoevsky. • Rating: 8/10 • *possible spoilers* Narrated by an unnamed narrator, who is a pawnbroker, this story is about the narrator's relationship with and thoughts on an unnamed young, gentle girl, who has had an unfortunate life and he has married to save. The pawnbroker makes some mistakes, some bad events occur, and something tragic, hinted at the beginning of the story, happens, causing the man to lament regretfully at the end. ~ The #story mainly revolves around the pawnbroker's psychological reflections and memories, which are another proofs of #Dostoevsky's great depictions of and insight into the human mind. The girl is a very obscure character, and the fact that the story is subtitled "A Fantastic Story" and the usage of the icon of Mary, mother of Jesus, makes us question whether the girl was a divine lesson or helper, whom the man failed to understand timely, or a victim of blind fate. To put it simply, this is a strange story open to various interpretations. ~ «... a loving woman, ah, a loving woman idolizes even the vices, even the wicked actions of her beloved…» (Ch. One, IV: Plans and More Plans) ~ #FyodorDostoyevsky #ThePawnbroker #TheMeekGirl #Yefimovich #Достоевский #FyodorMikhailovichDostoyevsky #FyodorDostoyevski #russianliterature #book #books #bookstagram #literature #bibliophile #reading #read #instabook #booknerd #bookworm #bookish #shortstory #classics https://www.instagram.com/p/CLnGMn8gzsAuLbcI3XVDozAVxeJtzocbGtK4Rs0/?igshid=v8tn4vouxv3s
