A House of Gentlefolk · Chapter
XXXVII explained
Lavretsky wanders the streets in despair after discovering his wife Varvara Pavlovna is alive and has returned.
What happens
Lavretsky wanders the streets in despair after discovering his wife Varvara Pavlovna is alive and has returned. He visits Lemm to send a note to Lisa, who replies that they cannot meet until the next evening. Returning home, he confronts Varvara Pavlovna, proposing she move to Lavriky. She agrees with feigned humility, then visits the Kalitins.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
Lavretsky's marriage is shattered by Varvara Pavlovna's return, forcing him to confront the impossibility of reconciliation and his love for Lisa.
Duty and Morality
Lavretsky feels bound by duty to his wife despite his aversion, proposing a separate residence rather than outright rejection.
The Past and Memory
Lavretsky is haunted by memories of his wife and the past, which intrude violently into his present hopes.
Characters to notice
- Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky
Wanders in despair, visits Lemm, confronts his wife, and leaves for Vassilyevskoe.
- Christopher Theodor Gottlieb Lemm
Receives Lavretsky late at night, agrees to deliver a note to Lisa, and returns with her reply.
- Varvara Pavlovna Lavretsky
Returns to Lavretsky's house, feigns humility, agrees to go to Lavriky, then visits the Kalitins.
- Lisa Mihalovna
Sends a brief reply to Lavretsky's note, postponing their meeting.
- Ada
Present at breakfast with Varvara Pavlovna, eating a mutton cutlet.
- Justine
Entrusted with Ada's care while Varvara Pavlovna visits the Kalitins.
Key passages
“For more than two hours Lavretsky wandered about the streets of town. The night he had spent in the outskirts of Paris returned to his mind.”
Lavretsky roamed the town for over two hours, recalling a similar night in Paris.
Highlights his emotional turmoil and the recurrence of past trauma.
“He could not rid himself of the image, the voice, the eyes of his wife … and he cursed himself, he cursed everything in the world.”
He was haunted by his wife's presence and cursed himself and all of existence.
Shows his intense despair and self-loathing.
“Varvara Pavlovna rose at once directly Lavretsky entered the room, and went to meet him with humility in her face.”
Varvara Pavlovna immediately stood and approached him with a humble expression.
Demonstrates her calculated demeanor of submission.
“I know how to submit, rejoined Varvara Pavlovna, bowing her head.”
She replied that she knew how to be submissive, lowering her head.
Illustrates her manipulative use of humility.