What Is to Be Done? · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in What Is to Be Done? by Nikolay Chernyshevsky.
Viéra Pavlovna
major
Also known as Viéra Pavlovna Rozalskaïa, Viéra Pavlovna Lopukhóva, Viéra Kirsánova, Viéra Pavlovna Kirsánova, Viérotchka, Viérka
Central protagonist, a young woman seeking independence and love through rational self-interest.
Dmitri Sergéitch Lopukhóf
major
Also known as Lopukhóf, Dmitri, Monsieur Lopukhóf
Vera's first husband, a medical student and rational egoist who stages a fake suicide.
Aleksandr Matvéitch Kirsánof
major
Also known as Kirsánof, Aleksandr
Vera's second husband, a doctor and close friend of Lopukhov, embodying the 'new man'.
Marya Alekséyevna
supporting
Also known as Marya Alekséyevna Rozalskaïa, Alekséyevna
Vera's scheming, materialistic mother who tries to marry her off for money.
Rakhmétof
supporting
Also known as the terrible Rakhmétof, Mr. Rakhmétof
An ascetic revolutionary and 'extraordinary man' who inspires others through discipline.
Katerina Vasílyevna
supporting
Also known as Katerina, Kátya, Miss Pólozova
A wealthy heiress who becomes Vera's friend and later marries Charles Beaumont.
Mademoiselle Julie
supporting
Also known as Julie, Julia, Julie Le Tellier
A French courtesan and friend of Vera who offers worldly advice.
Charles Beaumont
supporting
Also known as Mr. Beaumont, Beaumont, Charlie, James Beaumont
An American businessman who turns out to be Lopukhov in disguise.
Pavel Konstantinuitch Rozalsky
minor
Also known as Pavel Konstantinuitch, Konstantinuitch
Vera's father, a weak-willed clerk dominated by his wife.
Mikhaïl Ivanuitch Storeshnikof
minor
Also known as Storeshnikof, Monsieur Storeshnikof
A wealthy but dull suitor pursued by Vera's mother.
Anna Petrovna
minor
Also known as Petrovna
A minor character, possibly a servant or neighbor in the Rozalsky household.
Masha
minor
Also known as Poor Masha, the indefatigable Masha
Vera's loyal maid and assistant in her sewing cooperative.
Nástenka
minor
Also known as XV Nástenka
A young woman whose story of love and sacrifice is told within the narrative.
Serge
minor
A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance of the main circle.
Pólozof
minor
Also known as IX Pólozof
Katerina's father, a wealthy retired businessman.
Matrióna
minor
Also known as Matrióna Stepanóvna
A servant in the Rozalsky household.
Sasha
minor
A minor character, possibly a child or young relative.
Feódor
minor
A servant or minor functionary in the story.
Jean Sólovtsof
minor
Also known as Sólovtsof
A minor character, possibly a suitor or acquaintance.
Alekséi Petróvitch
minor
A minor character, possibly a doctor or official.
Mrs. Mertsálova
minor
Also known as Mertsálova
A friend of Vera's, part of the progressive circle.
Mertsálof
minor
Husband of Mrs. Mertsalova, a fellow progressive.
Nikítin
minor
A minor character, possibly a student or colleague.
Mosolof
minor
A minor character, possibly an official or acquaintance.
Natasha
minor
Also known as Natalia Andréyevna
A minor female character, possibly a friend of Vera.
Piotr
minor
A servant or minor male character.
Nikitushka Lomof
minor
Also known as Lomof
A barge-hauler mentioned as a symbol of raw strength.
Stepan
minor
A minor servant or worker character.
Nastasia Borísovna
minor
Also known as Nastasia Borísovna Kriukova
A minor character, possibly a singer or acquaintance.
Sáshenka Pribuitkova
minor
Also known as Sáshenka
A minor female character in the progressive circle.
Rachel
minor
A famous actress mentioned in the narrative.
Adèle
minor
A minor female character, possibly a friend of Julie.
Claude Bernard
minor
Also known as Claude, Bernard
French physiologist referenced in theoretical discussions.
Ivan Ivanovitch Shuválof
minor
Also known as Shuválof
Historical figure mentioned in passing.
Nekrásof
minor
Also known as Nikolaï Alekseyevitch Nekrásof
Russian poet referenced in the text.
Gogol
minor
Also known as N. V. Gogol
Russian writer mentioned in the narrative.
Boccaccio
minor
Italian author referenced in the text.
Dickens
minor
English novelist mentioned in passing.
Pushkin
minor
Russian poet referenced in the narrative.
Napoleon
minor
Also known as Napoleon the Great
French emperor mentioned as a historical comparison.
Newton
minor
Scientist referenced in theoretical discussions.
Karamzin
minor
Russian historian and writer mentioned in passing.
Peter the Great
minor
Also known as Peter
Russian tsar mentioned as a historical figure.
Mrs. Beecher Stowe
minor
American author mentioned in the narrative.
Miss Nightingale
minor
British nurse referenced in the text.
Bosio
minor
Also known as Angiolina Bosio
Italian singer mentioned in passing.
Mr. Lotter
minor
Also known as Lotter
A minor character, possibly a business acquaintance.
Zakhártchenko
minor
A minor character, possibly an official.
Ruzanof
minor
A minor character mentioned in the narrative.
Ivanof
minor
Also known as the kollezhsky sekratar Ivanof
A minor official character.
Filantyef
minor
Also known as the natchalnik Filantyef
A minor official or police character.
Daniluitch
minor
A minor character, possibly a servant or worker.
Agrafyéna Antonovna
minor
A minor female character, possibly a housekeeper.
Geneviève
minor
A minor female character, possibly a friend of Julie.
Mikhaïl Ivanovitch
minor
A minor character, possibly a variant of Storeshnikov.
Professor N.
minor
Also known as N.
An unnamed professor referenced in the text.
Baruina
minor
A minor female character, possibly a landlady.
Fyedka
minor
A minor servant or worker character.
Aniuta
minor
A minor female character, possibly a worker.
Mishka
minor
A minor servant character.
Alósha
minor
A minor character, possibly a child.
Simon
minor
A minor character, possibly a servant.
Berthe
minor
A minor female character, possibly a friend of Julie.
de Merrick
minor
A minor character, possibly a foreigner mentioned in passing.
Kátenka
minor
A diminutive form of Katerina, possibly a child or servant.
Nádinka
minor
A minor female character, possibly a variant of Nastenka.
Pauline
minor
Also known as Paulina
A minor female character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.
Maman
minor
French for 'mother', used as a term of address.
Papa
minor
French for 'father', used as a term of address.
Mámenka
minor
Russian diminutive for 'mother', used by characters.
Golubtchik
minor
Russian term of endearment, used as a form of address.
Starikashka
minor
Russian pejorative for 'old man', used as a term of address.
Mílenki
minor
Russian term of endearment, used as a form of address.
Akh
minor
An exclamation used as a character name in the NLP output.
Da
minor
Russian for 'yes', used as a character name in the NLP output.
Nu
minor
Russian interjection, used as a character name in the NLP output.
B
minor
An initial used as a placeholder for a character.
D
minor
An initial used as a placeholder for a character.
