White Nights, or คืนสีขาว in the Thai translation (also translated as 'The Dreamer'), tells the story of a lonely, dreamy young man who falls in love with a woman over several nights. Their relationship seems to go well until one night, the man is heartbreakingly rejected. This classic short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky, a Russian author renowned for his deep psychological insights, portrays this emotional journey. White Nights has also become widely discussed on TikTok in both Thailand and abroad and is even featured as a bestseller in prominent bookstores.
Today, we invite everyone to explore what mental or psychological conditions the characters in White Nights might be experiencing, how well the book reflects human nature, and why it has become so popular among younger generations.
What is White Nights about?
White Nights is a short story set over five nights in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The protagonist is an unnamed young man who suffers from loneliness, rarely socializes, and often indulges in daydreams.
One day, he encounters Nastenka, a young woman crying as a drunken man harasses her. The unnamed man helps her and immediately falls in love. Nastenka explains that she is upset because the man she loves promised to return and marry her but has since disappeared without a trace, leaving her hopeless about her love life.
Nastenka gradually develops a relationship with the young man, even hinting that if her lover does not return, she might love the unnamed man instead. This fills the young man with hope. However, her lover eventually returns, breaking the young man’s heart. He pretends to be happy about it. In the final scene, he receives a letter from Nastenka apologizing, thanking him for his kindness, and inviting him to her wedding. The young man cries while reading the letter but must accept the unavoidable reality.
The protagonist and maladaptive daydreaming
Considering the protagonist’s traits, although he describes himself as a dreamer from the start, he does not show severe symptoms of psychosis, such as losing touch with reality, because he can still distinguish fact from imagination. Therefore, he fits the profile of maladaptive daydreaming—a condition that, while not severe, can lead to other mental health issues like depression or anxiety. This may explain his social withdrawal and preference for solitude. Research by Dudek and Katz (2022) suggests maladaptive daydreaming is linked to psychological distress and serves as a coping mechanism for loneliness and emotional wounds.
Social withdrawal and loneliness
Dostoevsky is an author so deeply insightful into the human psyche that Sigmund Freud praised his work. In White Nights, he focuses on a dreamy protagonist who rejects reality because he believes it cannot provide life goals or satisfaction.
Our protagonist exhibits social isolation, showing traits of Avoidant Personality Disorder—creating barriers from society—and Narcissism of solitude, mistakenly embracing loneliness as part of his identity. Research by Suryaningrum and Atmaja (2025) applying Marianne Hirsch’s Postmemory concept suggests these conditions stem from childhood trauma. Allen et al. (2023) confirm that childhood trauma can lead to adult social withdrawal. While the protagonist’s childhood background is unknown, Dostoevsky likely intended this psychological complexity.
Given the protagonist’s psychological background, when he meets Nastenka, he invests all his feelings in her, believing only she can relieve his emotional state. Dostoevsky symbolically positions Nastenka as 'reality' and the protagonist as 'romanticism,' close to 'fantasy,' as he refuses to accept that Nastenka already has a lover and wrongly hopes she will love him instead.
Unconditional love
Although the protagonist struggles to separate reality from fantasy, Yousefvand (2015) draws on Robert Sternberg’s triangular theory of love, which identifies eight types of love, to suggest the protagonist experiences 'unconditional love'—an altruistic love focused on the other’s well-being and marked by sacrifice. Sternberg’s theory emphasizes intimacy.
On the story’s final day, despite his sorrow from accepting reality, the protagonist neither resents life nor blames anyone. Instead, he wishes well and supports the one he loves. This love embodies intimacy, pure love, care, giving, sacrifice, and selflessness. The author praises this as the true form of love—loving without expecting anything in return.
Why has White Nights gone viral on TikTok?
No one knows exactly where the White Nights viral trend on TikTok began, but it is clear that the story has become one of the most discussed books on #BookTok, inspiring review clips, scenes that make readers cry, and quotes edited into viral videos. This trend has spread to Thailand, where many request influencers to review the book and ask where to find Thai translations.
The story’s appeal likely lies in its resonance with the feelings and mental health challenges of younger generations, especially Gen Z, such as social withdrawal and depression. These issues are exacerbated by current social conditions like the COVID-19 pandemic causing isolation, reduced interaction on social media, and family violence linked to political or societal factors. The protagonist may represent readers who find the story relatable. Naturally, themes of love also appeal to young people’s experiences, making this story reflect common life experiences and satisfy readers’ desire for relatable content.
It’s not strange to be the protagonist yourself
The popularity of White Nights is not just a sign of young people rediscovering classic literature but also reflects the emotional and mental health states many face today. This is not unusual; it is a normal human experience to encounter complex psychological conditions. Likewise, modern psychotherapy is no longer stigmatized but is a way to understand oneself better and live a happier life.
In cases of social isolation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be effective. This talk therapy helps patients recognize and correct distorted thoughts or perceptions, such as feeling unworthy of social relationships. Therapists guide patients to balance these thoughts and gradually face social situations, rebuilding confidence and social skills.
A key advantage of CBT is that it is a non-drug therapy, suitable for those avoiding pharmacological treatments or used safely alongside them. CBT can also address other mental disorders like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder. It helps patients understand themselves, view the world rationally, and develop balanced social skills over time.
Anyone interested in experiencing the loneliness of the unnamed young man can find White Nights in both English and Thai (translated by Atipob Phattradechaipaisan and Prof. Supasilp) at leading bookstores.
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