The Torrents of Spring

"The Torrents of Spring" by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev is a story from the late 1800s, focusing on Dimitri Pavlovitch Sanin's path of figuring out who he is and what he wants out of life, especially when he is feeling tired of everything. While traveling through Europe, Sanin meets new people and starts thinking about love, who he is, and how people connect. The story starts with Sanin feeling bored and unhappy, even though he has just spent time with interesting people; he feels like something is missing and wants things to change. Then, Sanin suddenly meets Gemma, a pretty young woman, in a candy store, and she needs his help because her brother, Emil, is in trouble. Sanin's willingness to help creates a quick connection with Gemma, which then makes the reader wonder about love and the problems that come with it as Sanin finds out more about Gemma's life and fiancé, creating an atmosphere of romance mixed with uncertainty.