# Simeon Doútlof — The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories character guide

> Simeon Doútlof in The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories by Leo Tolstoy.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Old Doútlof, Doútlof

**First appearance:** 0013-poliko-shka

## Who they are

A village elder and serf who scrapes and schemes to buy his son free of conscription, weighing every kopeck against his conscience.

## In the story

### [A Russian Proprietor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/a-russian-proprietor)

A prosperous peasant elder mentioned by the nurse. He is old, shrewd with money, and reluctant to hand control over to his eldest son Karp, illustrating generational tensions and peasant economics.

### [Polikoúshka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/poliko-shka)

Mentioned indirectly. His family of three eligible men is at risk of providing a recruit. The steward argues they are 'good fellows' and should be protected.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/characters/simeon_doutlof
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/characters