# Subienkow — Lost Face character guide

> Subienkow in Lost Face by Jack London.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0000-lost-face

## Snapshot

A Polish exile and dreamer of independence, he has been driven across Siberia to Russian America, where he now waits bound in the snow for Nulato torture.

## Who they are

Subienkow is a prisoner of the Nulato Indians, a fine-nerved poet and artist stranded at the far edge of the world after a long trail of bitterness from Warsaw. He does not fear death itself but dreads the loss of control that torture will force upon him — the screaming, begging, and beast-like collapse that would offend his soul. Watching Big Ivan's agony, he knows his own turn is coming, and that Yakaga, whom he once whipped, will attend to him.

## Relationships

### [Makamuk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/makamuk)

_rivalry_

Makamuk and Subienkow are adversaries, with Makamuk representing the tribal force that captures and torments Subienkow.

### [Yakaga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/yakaga)

_rivalry_

Subienkow and Yakaga are captor and captive, with Yakaga being one of Subienkow's tormentors.

### [Big Ivan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/big_ivan)

_rivalry_

Big Ivan and Subienkow are enemies, with Ivan participating in Subienkow's capture and torture.

### [The Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/the_man)

_social_

Subienkow and The Man are distant acquaintances, connected only through the broader narrative of the frontier.

### [Makamuk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/makamuk)

_rivalry_

Makamuk and Subienkow are adversaries, with Makamuk representing the tribal force that captures and torments Subienkow.

### [Makamuk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/makamuk)

_rivalry_

Makamuk and Subienkow are adversaries, with Makamuk representing the tribal force that captures and torments Subienkow.

### [The Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/the_man)

_social_

Subienkow and The Man are distant acquaintances, connected only through the broader narrative of the frontier.

### [Yakaga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/yakaga)

_rivalry_

Subienkow and Yakaga are captor and captive, with Yakaga being one of Subienkow's tormentors.

### [Yakaga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/yakaga)

_rivalry_

Subienkow and Yakaga are captor and captive, with Yakaga being one of Subienkow's tormentors.

## In the story

### [Lost Face](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/chapters/lost-face)

The protagonist, a Polish fur-thief captured by the Nulato Indians, who uses a clever ruse to avoid torture and chooses a quick death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters/subienkow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lost_face_se/characters