# Pavel Yakovlitch Shubin — On the Eve character guide > Pavel Yakovlitch Shubin in On the Eve by Ivan Turgenev. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Shubin, Pavel, the Artist Pavel Yakovlitch Shubin, Pavel Shubin **First appearance:** 0001-ii ## Snapshot A brilliant, restless sculptor whose wit and self-mockery barely hide his jealousy, his idleness, and his fear of his own talent. ## Who they are Shubin is Elena's cousin and the household's licensed jester, forever sketching, mocking, and striking poses. He loves Elena in his way, but he loves his own cleverness more, and he knows it — he models a vicious caricature of himself as a warning. His charm keeps the novel's social world alive, and his envy of Insarov's conviction exposes what Shubin lacks. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/i) An artist lying on his chest, discussing art, beauty, and his frustration with sculpting Elena's bust; mentions Nikolai Stahov's affair. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/ii) Walks with Bersenyev, expresses desire to go to Italy, flirts with Zoya, and complains about his artistic stagnation. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/iii) A distant cousin of Anna, a talented but erratic sculptor who left medical school to pursue art; he lives in a room in the Stahovs' lodge. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/iv) Displays jealousy and artistic temperament, mocking Bersenyev's seriousness and modeling clay in a fit of pique after a quarrel with Elena. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/v) Confesses his love for Elena and his belief that she loves Bersenyev; runs after Annushka. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/viii) Enters looking tired with an ironical smile; teases Nikolai about his German woman, offers a sarcastic apology, and later mocks Uvar Ivanovitch as a 'cornerstone of the social fabric'. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/ix) Receives a note from Nikolai Artemyevitch, seeks out Elena in the garden, apologizes, and expresses his feelings of being misunderstood as an artist. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xi) Visits Insarov with exaggerated cheerfulness, plays the fool during their walk, and covertly examines Insarov. His inner excitement is apparent to Bersenyev. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xii) Shubin mocks Insarov's arrival, feels crestfallen by Elena's reproach, and later visits Bersenyev in despair, expressing jealousy and anger. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xiii) Scarcely appears; works feverishly on his art, either in his room or in his Moscow studio. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xv) Shubin flirts with Zoya, teases her with a cigar-case, and later feels sad during the return journey; he calls Insarov a hero. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xvi) Shubin teases Elena and is jealous of Insarov; Elena finds him spiteful and compares him to a butterfly. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xvii) Visits the Stahovs and offers Elena a sorrowful, sympathetic look, refraining from his usual ridicule. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xix) Observes Elena attentively and makes a half-true insinuation about her being in love, showing his penetrating insight. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xx) Shubin reveals his recent sculptures to Bersenyev, including a bust and a satirical statuette of Insarov, and a self-caricature with Annushka, discussing his artistic motives and self-criticism. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxii) Observes Nikolai's behavior from his lodge; later comments to Elena on Kurnatovsky's lack of inner substance compared to Insarov. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxiii) Returns to Moscow with Anna Vassilyevna. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxiv) Treats Insarov coldly and argues with Kurnatovsky on a legislative matter. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxvi) Makes inquiries about Insarov's condition. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxviii) Mentioned by Elena in her account of recent events. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxix) Sits smoking, mocks Nikolai's attachment and Kurnatovsky; advises beating Augustina Christianovna; reminds Nikolai of Anna Vassilyevna's birthday. ### [Chapter XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxx) Observes the family drama, discusses Elena's situation with Uvar Ivanovitch, and reflects on the lack of worthy men in Russia. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxxi) Had spoken truly about the impact of the news; plots with maids and Zoya to intervene during the parents' quarrel. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxxii) Shubin attempts to lighten the mood with words and a song, but feels the weight of the moment and the death of their shared past. ### [Chapter XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/chapters/xxxv) Mentioned in the epilogue; he is in Rome, a successful sculptor, and writes to Uvar Ivanovitch. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/characters/pavel_shubin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_eve_se/characters