The House of the Dead · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The House of the Dead by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Alexandr Petrovitch Goryanchikov
major
Also known as Alexandr Petrovitch, Goryanchikov, old Alexandr Petrovitch, Alexandr, the late Alexandr Petrovitch Goryanchikov
The narrator and protagonist, a nobleman sentenced to hard labor in Siberia.
Akim Akimitch
supporting
Also known as this Akim Akimitch, M., Tea Akim Akimitch, M. Akim Akimitch, Meanwhile M., Besides M.
A fellow convict, a former soldier known for his pedantic orderliness.
Petrov
supporting
Also known as this Petrov
A convict with a volatile temper, becomes a close acquaintance of the narrator.
Isay Fomitch Bumshtein
supporting
Also known as Isay Bumshtein, Isay Fomitch
A Jewish convict, a jeweler by trade, often mocked by other prisoners.
Aley
supporting
Also known as Aley Semyonitch
A young Dagestani Tatar convict, kind-hearted and beloved by the narrator.
Sushilov
minor
Also known as Poor Sushilov
A meek convict who serves as a servant to other prisoners.
Baklushin
supporting
Also known as Meantime Baklushin
A lively convict and talented actor in the prison theatricals.
Lieutenant Zherebyatnikov
minor
Also known as this Lieutenant Zherebyatnikov, Zherebyatnikov
A cruel prison officer who enjoys flogging prisoners.
Skuratov
minor
Also known as All Skuratov
A convict who tells the story of his love affair with a German woman.
Gazin
minor
Also known as Gazin yonder
A powerful and feared convict who sells vodka in the prison.
Akulka
minor
A woman whose tragic story is told in the chapter 'Akulka's Husband'.
Kedril the Glutton
minor
Also known as Kedril
A convict known for his gluttony and comic role in the theatricals.
Kulikov
minor
A convict and former soldier, a skilled veterinarian.
Lutchka
minor
A young convict known for his desperate and reckless character.
Sirotkin
minor
A young and naive convict who becomes a servant to the officers.
Bulkin
minor
Also known as the mortified Bulkin
A convict who is constantly humiliated by the other prisoners.
Luise
minor
Also known as Fetch Luise
A German woman who is the object of Skuratov's affections.
Filka Morozov
minor
Also known as Filka
A young convict, a former soldier, known for his strength.
Orlov
minor
A notorious convict, a hardened criminal with immense willpower.
Mihailov
minor
Also known as The shameless Mihailov
A convict who is a skilled craftsman and a moneylender.
Shilkin
minor
A convict who works as a cook in the prison kitchen.
Varlamov
minor
A wealthy and influential Old Believer merchant in Siberia.
Lieutenant Smekalov
minor
Also known as Smekalov
A prison officer known for his fairness and humanity.
Kultyapka
minor
Also known as Poor Kultyapka
A convict who is a simpleton and often the butt of jokes.
The Lomovs
minor
Also known as the two Lomovs
Two brothers, convicts who are always together and feared by others.
Roman
minor
A convict who is a former soldier and a friend of Petrov.
Kvasov
minor
A convict who works as a bathhouse attendant.
Koller
minor
A convict who is a former officer and a gambler.
Osip
minor
A convict who is a former servant and a clever schemer.
Akulina Kudimovna
minor
Also known as Akulina
A woman who is the wife of a soldier and a friend to the prisoners.
Kobylin
minor
A convict who is a former gentleman and a gambler.
Netsvetaev
minor
A convict who is a former officer and a drunkard.
Ustyantsev
minor
A convict who is a former soldier and a suicide risk.
Almazov
minor
A convict who is a former officer and a gambler.
Tchekunov
minor
A convict who is a former soldier and a storyteller.
Ankudim Trofimitch
minor
Also known as Ankudim
A convict who is a former merchant and a moneylender.
Dutov
minor
A convict who is a former soldier and a drunkard.
Fedka the Hangman
minor
Also known as Fedka
A convict who serves as the prison executioner.
Luka Kuzmitch
minor
Also known as Luka, This Luka Kuzmitch
A convict who is a former soldier and a storyteller.
Vassily Antonov
minor
Also known as Antonov
A convict who is a former soldier and a troublemaker.
Filatka
minor
A convict who is a former soldier and a drunkard.
Sorrel
minor
Also known as old Sorrel, the new Sorrel, Clever Sorrel
A dog that becomes a pet of the prison.
Marya Stepanovna
minor
The wife of the prison major, known for her kindness.
Mametka
minor
A young Dagestani Tatar convict, friend of Aley.
Old Man Antonitch
minor
Also known as Antonitch
An elderly convict who is a former soldier.
Trezorka
minor
A dog that is a pet of the prison.
Katya
minor
A young girl who brings food to the prisoners.
Shishkov
minor
A convict who tells the story of Akulka's murder.
Mikita Grigoritch
minor
Also known as Mikita
A convict who is a former soldier and a drunkard.
Babay
minor
A convict who is a former soldier and a storyteller.
Dyatlov
minor
A convict who is a former soldier and a drunkard.
Ivan Ivanitch Gvozdikov
minor
Also known as Ivan Ivanitch
A convict who is a former officer and a gambler.
Neustroev
minor
A convict who is a former soldier and a drunkard.
