The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories · Character
Nikíta
A peasant servant whose easygoing nature and fatalistic acceptance carry him through a night of blizzard and drink alongside his increasingly desperate master.
major
Also known as Nikíta of Mukhórty, Mukhórty
First appearance: Master and Man
As a major figure in The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories, Nikíta is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The servant; patient, enduring, and passively obedient, finding comfort in simple warmth and observing the family's drama without comment.
Nikíta works for Vassíly Andréevitch, a prosperous peasant who has grown rich through sharp dealing and now wants to buy a forest. On a winter journey, Nikíta drinks to stay warm and gradually loses his grip on the world, while his master's greed and fear push them both deeper into the storm. Nikíta's passive warmth and his master's calculating cruelty form the moral axis of the story.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Character Web
17 connectionsA slice of how Nikíta sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Peasants and Masters
- Military Officers and Hussars
- Caucasus Captives and Warriors
+12 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak is Esarhaddon's shocking, direct confrontation with the truth that he and his victim are on…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingIn the story
Nikíta appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Nikíta unlock in the free preview.
See Nikíta in Master and Man