# XXXIX explained — A House of Gentlefolk

> Chapter companion for A House of Gentlefolk by Ivan Turgenev.

## What happens

Varvara Pavlovna arrives at the Kalitin household, charming Marya Dmitrievna with her flattery and refined manners. She plays the piano, discusses Panshin, and secures Marya Dmitrievna's favor. Marfa Timofyevna remains cold and distant, while Lisa, overwhelmed, retreats with her aunt, who kneels and silently kisses her hands in penitence and sympathy.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Identity

Varvara Pavlovna's manipulative charm and elegant dress allow her to navigate and win over the Kalitin household, despite her scandalous past, illustrating the fluidity and performance of social identity.

### Duty and Morality

Marfa Timofyevna's silent kneeling and kissing of Lisa's hands express a deep sense of penitence and moral duty, while Lisa's acceptance reflects her own burden of guilt and resignation.

## Character check-ins

### Marya Dmitrievna Kalitin

Agitated but curious, she receives Varvara Pavlovna and is quickly won over by her charm and flattery.

### Varvara Pavlovna Lavretsky

Arrives at the Kalitin house, skillfully ingratiates herself with Marya Dmitrievna, plays the piano, and mentions her upcoming departure to Lavriky.

### Lisa Mihalovna

Sinks into a chair in her aunt's room, weeping silently as Marfa Timofyevna kneels and kisses her hands in a gesture of penitence and sympathy.

### Marfa Timofyevna Pestov

Treats Varvara Pavlovna with coldness and discourtesy; later kneels before Lisa and silently kisses her hands, weeping with her.

### Gedeonovsky

Arrives as a page announces him; he is thrown into confusion by Varvara Pavlovna but later praises her piano playing and joins in card play.

## Key lines

> Marya Dmitrievna, turning to Varvara Pavlovna and rolling her eyes, 'I myself have often just such sick headaches.' 'Really!' rejoined Varvara Pavlovna.

Marya Dmitrievna, rolling her eyes, tells Varvara Pavlovna that she often has similar headaches, to which Varvara Pavlovna responds with feigned surprise.

_Marya Dmitrievna tries to empathize with Lisa's headache, but Varvara Pavlovna's reply is polite and dismissive._

> Marfa Timofyevna gazed long at her in silence, slowly she knelt down before her—and began still in the same silence to kiss her hands alternately.

Marfa Timofyevna looks at Lisa for a long time, then silently kneels and kisses her hands one after the other.

_This gesture of silent penitence and deep sympathy underscores the emotional bond between Marfa Timofyevna and Lisa._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxxix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters