# The Master — The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories character guide > The Master in The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories by Leo Tolstoy. **Role:** minor **First appearance:** 0007-a-russian-proprietor ## Who they are A generic landowner or authority figure in peasant stories. ## In the story ### [The Snowstorm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-snowstorm) The narrator of the story, who is traveling by sledge and observes the events with growing anxiety and detachment. ### [Lucerne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/lucerne) Implied as the narrator himself, who observes the event, experiences anger, and delivers the internal monologue critiquing society's hypocrisy and loss of poetic feeling. ### [Family Happiness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/family-happiness) Depicted as the narrator's husband in the latter part of the chapter. He is deeply in love, shares his vision of ideal happiness in a quiet country life, and is integral to the household. ### [Polikoúshka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/poliko-shka) The landowner (referred to as 'madam'). She is capricious and sentimental, wishing to avoid hardship for both Polikoúshka and the unknown Doútlofs, but ultimately exercises her absolute power in a way that seems benevolent but is fraught with risk. ### [The Porcelain Doll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-porcelain-doll209) The narrator of the letter, identified as 'Lëva' or 'Lëvochka,' who documents Sónya's transformation with a mix of horror, acceptance, and peculiar affection. ### [The Foundling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-foundling) Implied authority figure; the mother considers reporting the foundling to him. ### [The Old Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-old-horse) The narrator as a boy, learning a harsh lesson in cruelty and compassion through his treatment of the horse Raven. ### [How I Learned to Ride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/how-i-learned-to-ride) The riding-school instructor who initially doubts the young narrator's ability, laughs at his fall, but ultimately teaches him to ride. ### [Búlka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/b-lka) The narrator and Búlka's owner, who is traveling to the Caucasus. He is the object of Búlka's intense devotion and loyalty. ### [Búlka and the Wild Boar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/b-lka-and-the-wild-boar) The narrator of the story. He participates in the hunt, shoots the boar, and performs emergency surgery on Búlka to save his life. ### [The Turtle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-turtle) The narrator who observes Milton and the turtle, describes the turtle's anatomy, and intervenes in the dog's pursuit. ### [Búlka and the Wolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/b-lka-and-the-wolf) The narrator who attempts to shoot the wolf, treats Búlka's wound, and recounts the event. ### [What Happened to Búlka in Pyatigórsk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/what-happened-to-b-lka-in-pyatig-rsk) The narrator who observes the events, removes Búlka's collar, and unsuccessfully tries to call him back and stop the prisoners. ### [What Men Live By](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/what-men-live-by) The rich man who comes to order boots. Michael sees the angel of death behind him, illustrating that man cannot know his own needs, as the man plans for a year but will die by evening. ### [Memoirs of a Lunatic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/memoirs-of-a-lunatic) The unnamed narrator, a landowner. He describes his psychological torment, spiritual seeking, and growing disillusionment with his former life of estate management and social conventions, culminating in a transformative 'madness.' ### [Evil Allures, but Good Endures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/evil-allures-but-good-endures) The kind and forgiving landowner who, when provoked by Aleb's destruction of his prized ram, chooses forgiveness and grants Aleb his freedom, attributing his strength to God. ### [The Repentant Sinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-repentant-sinner) Represented allegorically by John the Divine, the final gatekeeper whose own doctrine of love ultimately compels him to welcome the repentant sinner. ### [Kholstomír](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/kholstom-r) The wealthy host, proud of his stud farm. He is oblivious to his guest's inner turmoil, lavishly showing off his horses. ### [The Kreutzer Sonata](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-kreutzer-sonata) The listener on the train to whom Pózdnyshev is confessing his story, who is engrossed in thought by the tale. ### [The Empty Drum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-empty-drum) Emelyán's initial employer mentioned at the story's start, establishing his status as a labourer. ### [Master and Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/master-and-man) The old man of the host household; distressed by his son's desire to split the family, fearing ruin, and represents traditional patriarchal authority. ### [Too Dear!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/too-dear) The keeper of the kingdom's sole gaming house, whose payments from the roulette profits form a crucial part of the King's revenue. ### [Alyosha the Pot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/alyosha-the-pot) Alyosha's employer. He is dismissive of Alyosha's appearance initially but values his work. He forbids Alyosha's marriage to the cook, stating he disapproves of married servants in his house. ### [A Prayer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/a-prayer) The grieving husband and father, who timidly tries to comfort his wife. ### [There Are No Guilty People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/there-are-no-guilty-people) Implied as the 'squire' from whom Mitri seeks and receives three roubles, representing the landowning class upon which the peasant depends. ### [The Wisdom of Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-wisdom-of-children) Implied father of the boy questioning the carpenter about property and work. ### [Two Wayfarers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/two-wayfarers) Referred to as Borzin's 'literary friend' and the editor of a journal to whom Borzin writes about his plans. ### [Father Vasily](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/father-vasily) The peasant from Vozdrevo who fetches Father Vasily. He is grieving and anxious about his dying wife and the fate of his children. ### [A Talk with a Wayfarer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/a-talk-with-a-wayfarer) Referenced by the narrator as the one who decides matters of life and death, underscoring a theme of submission to a higher will. ### [From the Diary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/from-the-diary) Acts as the narrator and primary observer. He engages the young peasant in a moral dialogue, advocating for temperance and reflecting on the encounter's significance. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/characters/the_master - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/characters