Character guide

Dr. Andrey Yefimitch Ragin

major

Also known as Andrey Yefimitch, Yefimitch

A doctor who becomes disillusioned with his profession and society.

M. Laptev

major

Also known as Laptev, Fyodor Laptev, old Laptev

A merchant and family patriarch involved in business and personal conflicts.

Anna Akimovna

major

Also known as Anna

A young woman navigating love and societal expectations.

Yegorushka

major

Also known as Mechanically Yegorushka

A boy who experiences adventures and hardships on a journey.

Olga Ivanovna Irnin

major

Also known as Olga Ivanovna, Olga, Pelagea, Olga Ivanovna Knyasev

A woman entangled in a complex romantic and social web.

Yulia Sergeyevna

major

Also known as Yulia

A woman whose life is shaped by her relationships and personal choices.

Olga Mihalovna

major

Also known as Olga

A woman dealing with family and romantic entanglements.

Denis

supporting

Also known as Denis Grigoryev, Nikitin, Denis Petrovitch Nikitin

A man involved in various social and personal dramas.

Katya

supporting

A young woman with a significant role in the narrative.

Masha

supporting

Also known as little Masha, Masha Shelestov, old Shelestov, Shelestov, red-haired Masha, poor Masha

A woman whose actions and relationships drive parts of the story.

Ivan Ivanitch

supporting

Also known as Poor Ivan Ivanitch, Ivan Ivanitch Kuzmitchov, Kuzmitchov, Ivan Ivanitch Bragin

A recurring character who interacts with the main cast.

Vassilyev

supporting

A character who appears in multiple stories within the collection.

Dymov

supporting

Also known as The flaxen-headed Dymov, the daredevil Dymov, Osip Stepanitch Dymov, Dear Dymov, Osip, Osip Dymov, Uncle Osip

A bold and memorable character with a distinct personality.

Gromov

supporting

Also known as Ivan Dmitritch Gromov, Ivan, Ivan Dmitritch

A man whose story explores themes of confinement and madness.

Yakov

supporting

Also known as Father Yakov Smirnov, Father Yakov, Father, Yakov Matveyitch

A priest who plays a role in the lives of other characters.

Dmitri Dmitritch Gurov

major

Also known as Gurov, Dmitri, Dmitri Dmitritch

A man who embarks on a life-changing romantic affair.

Nadya Zelenin

supporting

Also known as Nadya

A young woman facing pivotal decisions about her future.

Liza

supporting

Also known as the real Liza

A woman whose identity and relationships are central to her story.

Smirnov

supporting

Also known as Sasha, Sasha Smirnov, Sasha Uskov

A character involved in familial and social conflicts.

Yakov Ivanitch

supporting

Also known as Yakov

A man who appears in various narrative contexts.

Pyotr Dmitritch

supporting

Also known as Pyotr

A character with a notable presence in the stories.

Yegor Vlassitch

supporting

Also known as Yegor, Vlassitch

A man whose actions have consequences for others.

Ryabovitch

supporting

An officer who experiences a poignant romantic encounter.

Father Christopher Sireysky

supporting

Also known as Father Christopher

A clergyman who interacts with the main characters.

Ariadne

supporting

Also known as Ariadne Grigoryevna

A woman who captivates and influences those around her.

Olenka

major

Also known as The Darling Olenka, Darling

A woman whose identity is defined by her need to love.

Groholsky

supporting

Also known as Ivan Petrovitch Groholsky, Ivan

A man involved in a dramatic and mysterious affair.

Sonya

supporting

Also known as darling Sonia, Sonia, Auntie Sonya, Auntie

A woman who plays a key role in family dynamics.

Sofya Petrovna

supporting

Also known as Sofya

A woman grappling with personal and social challenges.

Pyotr Mihalitch Ivashin

supporting

Also known as Pyotr Mihalitch

A man whose life is intertwined with his neighbors.

Panteley

minor

Also known as Panteley Zaharov Holodov

A character who appears in the narrative with a distinct role.

Kisotchka

minor

Also known as this Kisotchka

A woman who is the object of affection and intrigue.

Verotchka

minor

Also known as Ivan Alexeyitch Ognev, Ognev, Ivan Alexeyitch, pretty Verotchka, Ivan

A young woman involved in a romantic story.

The Princess

minor

A noblewoman who appears in the stories.

Abogin

minor

A man who plays a part in a dramatic episode.

Sofya Lvovna

minor

Also known as Sofya

A woman whose story involves personal turmoil.

Polina Nikolaevna Razsudin

minor

Also known as Polina Nikolaevna, Polina, Polina Razsudin

A woman with a significant role in the narrative.

Vera Ivanovna Kardin

minor

Also known as Vera

A woman whose life is explored in the stories.

Sigaev

minor

Also known as Fyodor Petrovna, Fyodor, Fyodor Fyodorovitch Sigaev, Fyodor Nilov, Fyodor Fyodorovitch

A character who appears in various social contexts.

Mihail Averyanitch

minor

Also known as Fortunately Mihail Averyanitch

A man who interacts with the main characters.

The Stranger

minor

An enigmatic figure who appears in the narrative.

Ivan Petrovitch

minor

Also known as Ivan, Ivan Petrovitch Kulikin

A man who plays a role in the stories.

Pyotr Petrovitch

minor

Also known as Pyotr, this Pyotr, Pyotr Petrovitch Strizhin, Strizhin

A character with a notable presence in the collection.

Anisim Tsybukin

supporting

Also known as Anisim, Tsybukin, old Tsybukin

A member of the Tsybukin family involved in the plot.

Pashka

minor

A boy who appears in a story about childhood and hardship.

Avdeyev

minor

A character who appears in the narrative.

Yergunov

minor

Also known as Meanwhile Yergunov

A man whose story unfolds in the collection.

Dmitri Petrovitch Silin

minor

Also known as Dmitri Petrovitch, Silin, Dmitri

A character who appears in the stories.

Kashtanka

major

Also known as Old Kashtanka

A dog who is the central character in her own story.

Nikolay Yermolaitch

supporting

Also known as Nikolay Yermolaitch Tchubikov, Tchubikov, the gallant Tchubikov, Dear Nikolay Yermolaitch, Nikolay, dear Nikolay Yermolaitch

A detective involved in solving a crime.

Granny Sasha

minor

Also known as Granny, Sasha, dear Sasha

An elderly woman who plays a role in family affairs.

Aksinya

minor

Also known as Aksinya Stepanovna

A woman with a strong presence in the narrative.

Varvara Nikolayevna

minor

Also known as Varvara, Varvara Nikolaevna

A woman who appears in the stories.

Lipa

supporting

Also known as Only Lipa

A young woman who endures tragedy and loss.

Ivan Dmitritch Tchervyakov

major

Also known as Tchervyakov, Ivan Dmitritch

A government clerk whose life is undone by a sneeze.

Pavel Ignatyevitch Klimov

minor

Also known as Klimov, Pavel

A character who appears in the narrative.

Father Anastasy

minor

Also known as Father, Anastasy

A priest who appears in the stories.

Mlle. Ilovaisky

minor

Also known as Ilovaisky

A woman who is a figure of interest in the narrative.

Nikita

minor

Also known as Pirogov, the late Professor Nikita Krylov, Nikita Krylov, Revel

A professor mentioned in the context of a story.

Matvey

minor

Also known as the perspiring Matvey, Poor mild Matvey, the ignorant Matvey, The verger Matvey, the verger Matvey, Matvey Savitch, Matvey Vassilitch

A verger who plays a role in a story.

Mihail Petrovitch Zotov

minor

Also known as Zotov, Mihail

A character who appears in the narrative.

Vassya

minor

A boy who appears in a story.

Bugrov

minor

Also known as Grigory Vassilyevitch Bugrov

A man who appears in the stories.

Grisha

minor

Also known as the cleverest Grisha, Grisha Grisha

A child who is the focus of a story.

The Policeman

minor

A law enforcement officer who appears in the narrative.

The Tramp

minor

A wandering figure who appears in a story.

Susanna Moiseyevna

minor

Also known as Susanna

A woman who appears in the narrative.

Pavel Ivanitch

minor

Also known as Ivanitch, Pavel Ivanitch Vyhodtsev, Vyhodtsev, Pavel Ivanitch Bezsonnitsin, Pavel Ivanitch

A man who appears in the stories.

Savely Gykin

minor

Also known as Savely, And Savely

A character who appears in the narrative.

Savka

minor

A man who appears in a story.

Lyzhin

minor

A character who appears in the narrative.

Yartsev

minor

Also known as Ivan Gavrilitch Yartsev, Ivan Gavrilitch, Gavrilitch

A man who appears in the stories.

The Cossack Maxim Tortchakov

minor

Also known as Tortchakov, a red-haired Cossack, Maxim, the Cossack, The Cossack, Cossack, the Tortchakov

A Cossack who appears in the narrative.

Mashenka

minor

A woman who appears in the stories.

Nadenka

minor

A young woman who is the subject of a joke.

Moisey Moisevitch

minor

Also known as Moisey

A Jewish innkeeper who appears in a story.

Ryabovsky

minor

A man who appears in the narrative.

Elena

minor

Also known as Nellie, Elena Ivanovna

A woman who appears in the stories.

Byelikov

major

Also known as this Byelikov

A man who lives in a case, afraid of everything.

Alexey Ivanovitch Kryukov

minor

Also known as Kryukov, Alexey Ivanovitch, Alexey

A character who appears in the narrative.

Vorotov

minor

A man who appears in a story.

Varka

major

A young servant girl who endures a harsh life.

Lysevitch

minor

A character who appears in the narrative.

Mariya

minor

Also known as the harlot Mariya, Mariya Viktorovna

A woman who appears in the stories.

Zina

minor

Also known as Mademoiselle Zina, mademoiselle

A young woman who is a governess or similar figure.

Fyodor Lukitch Sysoev

minor

Also known as Sysoev, Fyodor Lukitch

A schoolmaster who appears in the narrative.