# Marya Dmitrievna Kalitin — A House of Gentlefolk character guide > Marya Dmitrievna Kalitin in A House of Gentlefolk by Ivan Turgenev. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Kalitin, Marya Dmitrievna, Dmitrievna, Madame Kalitin **First appearance:** 0001-ii ## Who they are Lisa's widowed mother, a provincial lady of restless vanity and maternal anxiety, forever arranging marriages and fretting over the governess she has just hired. ## Relationships ### [Varvara Pavlovna Lavretsky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/varvara_pavlovna_lavretsky) _social_ Marya Dmitrievna is initially charmed and later dominated by the manipulative Varvara Pavlovna. ### [Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/vladimir_nikolaitch_panshin) _social_ Marya Dmitrievna favors Panshin as a suitable match for her daughter Lisa, admiring his social graces. ### [Lisa Mihalovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/lisa_mihalovna) _family_ Marya Dmitrievna is Lisa's mother, but their relationship is strained by Marya's vanity and lack of understanding. ### [Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/fedor_ivanitch_lavretsky) _social_ Lavretsky is a polite but distant acquaintance of Marya Dmitrievna, who initially disapproves of him. ### [Gedeonovsky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/gedeonovsky) _social_ Gedeonovsky is a gossipy, sycophantic acquaintance who frequently visits Marya Dmitrievna to share news. ### [Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/vladimir_nikolaitch_panshin) _social_ Marya Dmitrievna favors Panshin as a suitable match for her daughter Lisa, admiring his social graces. ### [Varvara Pavlovna Lavretsky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/varvara_pavlovna_lavretsky) _social_ Marya Dmitrievna is initially charmed and later dominated by the manipulative Varvara Pavlovna. ### [Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/fedor_ivanitch_lavretsky) _social_ Lavretsky is a polite but distant acquaintance of Marya Dmitrievna, who initially disapproves of him. ### [Lisa Mihalovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/lisa_mihalovna) _family_ Marya Dmitrievna is Lisa's mother, but their relationship is strained by Marya's vanity and lack of understanding. ### [Varvara Pavlovna Lavretsky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/varvara_pavlovna_lavretsky) _social_ Marya Dmitrievna is initially charmed and later dominated by the manipulative Varvara Pavlovna. ### [Gedeonovsky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/gedeonovsky) _social_ Gedeonovsky is a gossipy, sycophantic acquaintance who frequently visits Marya Dmitrievna to share news. ### [Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/fedor_ivanitch_lavretsky) _social_ Lavretsky is a polite but distant acquaintance of Marya Dmitrievna, who initially disapproves of him. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/i) A widow of about fifty, living in O... with her two daughters and aunt; sentimental and self-indulgent, she retains boarding-school manners. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/ii) Hosts the conversation, expresses concern for Lavretsky as a relative, and seeks gossip about his return. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/iii) Greets Panshin warmly, admires his horse, and invites him inside. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/iv) Hostess of the gathering, adores Panshin, and leaves with Gedeonovsky to discuss Lavretsky. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/vii) Flustered by Lavretsky's arrival, tries to appear sympathetic but is inwardly critical of his composure. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xvii) Complains of a headache and restless night; speaks to Lavretsky about Panshin's courtship of Lisa and her maternal efforts; dismisses Lavretsky as a 'dolt' after he leaves. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxi) Hosts the evening, laughs at Lemm's conducting, but retires early, finding Beethoven too agitating. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxiii) Referenced as the one who tells Lisa that Panshin is a fine young man, influencing her obedience. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxiv) Agrees to the visit after Lavretsky's flattering gestures; suggests including Panshin. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxvi) Visits Vassilyevskoe with her young people, acts condescendingly, and enjoys fishing. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxvii) Expresses desire to return home; falls asleep during the carriage ride. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxviii) Marya Dmitrievna appears escorted by Gedeonovsky and later sits down to play cards with Marfa Timofyevna, Madame Byelenitsin, and Gedeonovsky. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxix) Gives Lavretsky a less than cordial welcome; influenced by Panshin's disparaging remarks. ### [Lavretsky's Hope and Lisa's Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxx) Plays picquet with Panshin; shows slight vexation at Lavretsky's arrival but continues the game. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxxi) Has been set against Lavretsky but is softened by his losing at picquet. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxxii) Sulky with Lavretsky, receives him condescendingly; stands languidly during the service, bored. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxxiii) Enjoys the evening, agrees with Panshin's views, and later plays picquet with him. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxxiv) Marya Dmitrievna hosts the evening, plays picquet with Panshin, and retires after the game. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxxv) Lisa's mother, who boasts of educating her children but is indolent and only superficially attentive, dressing Lisa up and praising her before visitors. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxxvi) Claims a headache and refuses to receive Lavretsky. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxxviii) Weeps and scolds Lisa for rejecting Panshin, accusing her of ingratitude and blaming the cousin. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xxxix) Agitated but curious, she receives Varvara Pavlovna and is quickly won over by her charm and flattery. ### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xl) Hosts the evening, delighted by Varvara's performance, and secretly schemes to reconcile Varvara with Lavretsky, oblivious to the manipulation around her. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/xliii) She arranges the reconciliation, weeping and pleading with Lavretsky to forgive his wife, and hides Varvara Pavlovna behind a screen to force the meeting. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/chapters/epilogue) Has died two years after Lisa took the veil. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters/marya_dmitrievna_kalitin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_house_of_gentlefolk_se/characters