# Anna Sergyevna Odintsov — Fathers and Children character guide > Anna Sergyevna Odintsov in Fathers and Children by Ivan Turgenev. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Anna, Anna Sergyevna, Odintsov, Madame Odintsov, Madame Odintsov's, Odintsova **First appearance:** 0013-xiv ## Snapshot A wealthy young widow whose composure is so complete that even Bazarov cannot tell whether he is fascinating her or being studied. ## Who they are Madame Odintsov has survived a scandalous marriage, a provincial gossip mill, and a fortune she did not earn, and has emerged with a beautiful face, an excellent Russian prose style, and a horror of vulgarity. She invites Bazarov and Arkady to Nikolskoe out of genuine curiosity about the man who believes in nothing, then listens to him talk about botany with a quiet attention that unnerves him. Her independence is real, but so is her fear of anything that might disturb it, and that fear is what makes her dangerous to the one man who thought he was immune. ## Relationships ### [Yevgeny Bazarov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/yevgeny_bazarov) _romantic_ A complex, intellectually charged attraction marked by mutual fascination but emotional withdrawal, ending in unresolved tension. ### [Arkady Kirsanov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/arkady_kirsanov) _social_ A polite, superficial acquaintance where Odintsov treats Arkady with friendly indifference, never reciprocating his youthful infatuation. ### [Katya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/katya) _family_ A sisterly relationship marked by Anna's protective dominance and Katya's quiet independence, with underlying rivalry for Arkady's affection. ### [Yevgeny Bazarov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/yevgeny_bazarov) _romantic_ A complex, intellectually charged attraction marked by mutual fascination but emotional withdrawal, ending in unresolved tension. ### [Yevgeny Bazarov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/yevgeny_bazarov) _romantic_ A complex, intellectually charged attraction marked by mutual fascination but emotional withdrawal, ending in unresolved tension. ### [Arkady Kirsanov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/arkady_kirsanov) _social_ A polite, superficial acquaintance where Odintsov treats Arkady with friendly indifference, never reciprocating his youthful infatuation. ### [Arkady Kirsanov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/arkady_kirsanov) _social_ A polite, superficial acquaintance where Odintsov treats Arkady with friendly indifference, never reciprocating his youthful infatuation. ### [Katya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/katya) _family_ A sisterly relationship marked by Anna's protective dominance and Katya's quiet independence, with underlying rivalry for Arkady's affection. ### [Katya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/katya) _family_ A sisterly relationship marked by Anna's protective dominance and Katya's quiet independence, with underlying rivalry for Arkady's affection. ## In the story ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xiv) A tall, dignified woman in black; she dances and converses with Arkady, showing tranquil intelligence and a gracious manner. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xv) Composed and gracious; well-read; invites the friends to Nikolskoe; her background and marriage are detailed. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xvi) Hosts Bazarov and Arkady, engages Bazarov in discussion, and reflects on her own boredom and desire for something unknown. She is intrigued by Bazarov's strangeness. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xvii) Madame Odintsov is intrigued by Bazarov and thinks about him often. She maintains her orderly household but is visibly affected by his announcement of departure. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xviii) Forces Bazarov's confession, then feels both fear and guilt; she values her peace and decides against pursuing the relationship, while later trying to probe Bazarov's deeper ambitions. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xix) Feels awkward after Bazarov's confession, is relieved by Sitnikov's arrival, and bids Bazarov farewell with a hope of meeting again. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xxii) Receives Bazarov and Arkady with polite surprise but not warmth; mentions she has an attack of spleen; invites them to visit again before long. ### [Chapter XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xxv) Anna Sergyevna receives Bazarov in the drawing-room, agreeing to let bygones be bygones, though she feels a faint spasm of dread. She later asks about Bazarov's time at the Kirsanovs' and comments on Arkady's growing confidence. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xxvi) Observes the young couple's happiness, feels both glad and sorry, and reflects on her own motives. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xxvii) Arrives with a doctor in response to Bazarov's message; she shows compassion despite their past estrangement. ### [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/chapters/xxviii) Makes a marriage of good sense to a clever lawyer, lives in harmony, perhaps to attain love. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters/anna_sergyevna_odintsov - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fathers_and_children_se/characters