Futility · Chapter
IV explained
The narrator and others see Nina, Fanny, and Vera off at the Nicholas Station on a cold November morning.
What happens
The narrator and others see Nina, Fanny, and Vera off at the Nicholas Station on a cold November morning. Nikolai Vasilievich pleads with Nina not to go, but Fanny insists she must. The narrator asks Nina to marry him, and she agrees. The train departs with the three sisters.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because the protagonist reaches an emotional and psychological peak of des…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Love and Illusion
The narrator's marriage proposal to Nina feels oddly like a business transaction, hinting at illusion in romantic commitment.
- Futility and Meaninglessness
Nikolai Vasilievich's repeated pleas to Nina not to go are futile, as she departs anyway.
Characters to notice
- Nikolai Vasilievich
Presents a pitiable sight at the station, pleading with Nina not to leave.
- Nina Bursànova
Agrees to marry the narrator but departs with the sisters for Moscow.
- Fanny Ivanovna
Intervenes to insist Nina must go, showing a practical resolve.
- Vera
Bids farewell to the departing sisters with no excess of emotion.
Key passages
““Nina,” he said. “Yes?” She turned round. “Don’t go.” “I must.” “You won’t come back. She will keep you.” She shook her head. “Don’t go, Nina.” “Don’t go,” I said. She stood thoughtful, in indecision. “Don’t, Nina,” cut in Nikolai Vasilievich. She did not answer. “Nina,” he said again. “No, she must,” intervened Fanny Ivanovna. “This is all nonsense! She will go and come back quickly. Won’t you, Nina?” “Yes,” said Nina.”
At the station, Nikolai Vasilievich begs Nina not to leave, but Fanny Ivanovna insists she must go and will return soon.
Shows the tension between Nikolai's desperation and Fanny's practical insistence.
““Nina, will you marry me?” She looked flippant and humorous and yet there was just a trace of seriousness in her look. “Yes.” I felt relieved—oddly as I might feel if I had just concluded a satisfactory business transaction.”
The narrator proposes to Nina, and she agrees with a mix of humor and seriousness; he feels a businesslike relief.
Highlights the transactional and ambiguous nature of their engagement.
