# Rataziaev — Poor Folk character guide

> Rataziaev in Poor Folk by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Rataziaev

**First appearance:** 0002-april-8th-my-dearest-barbara-alexievna

## Snapshot

A self-satisfied scribbler whose literary evenings turn cruel when he reads Makar's private letter aloud, branding him 'Lovelace' before the whole building.

## Who they are

Rataziaev is Makar's neighbor and a would-be author who hosts gatherings of mediocre literary men in his rooms. His vanity curdles into treachery when he betrays Makar's confidence, transforming a private love letter into public mockery and giving Makar the humiliating nickname that spreads through the tenement. He embodies the casual cruelty of Petersburg's petty intelligentsia, showing how quickly a man of letters can become a man of malice when another's dignity is the price of a laugh.

## Relationships

### [Phaldoni](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/characters/phaldoni)

_social_

Phaldoni and Rataziaev are likely fellow lodgers or minor characters who interact in the boarding house setting.

### [Theresa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/characters/theresa)

_social_

Rataziaev and Theresa are fellow tenants or servants in the same building, interacting casually as part of daily life.

## In the story

### [June 21st: My Own, My Darling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/june-21st-my-own-my-darling)

Makar's neighbor who invited him to tea for a literary gathering.

### [June 26th: My Dear Little Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/june-26th-my-dear-little-barbara)

A writer and friend of Makar, praised for his literary talent and generosity; Makar copies documents for him and attends his gatherings.

### [June 27th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/june-27th-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch)

Mentioned as a writer whose works Barbara considers rubbish, warning Makar not to borrow books from him.

### [June 28th: My Dearest Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/june-28th-my-dearest-barbara-alexievna)

Makar defends him as a splendid writer, praising his ornate and imaginative style.

### [July 1st: Rubbish, Rubbish, Barbara!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/july-1st-rubbish-rubbish-barbara)

Mentioned as the author of 'The Station Overseer' (though actually by Pushkin); Makar quotes his opinion on the book.

### [August 1st: My Darling Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/august-1st-my-darling-barbara-alexievna)

Suspected by Makar of spreading gossip and planning to write a satire about him and Barbara.

### [August 11th: O Barbara Alexievna, I Am Undone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/august-11th-o-barbara-alexievna-i-am-undone)

Betrays Makar by allowing a friend to read Makar's private letter, leading to mockery and the nickname 'Lovelace.'

### [September 11th: My Darling Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-11th-my-darling-barbara-alexievna)

Reconciled with Makar; he visited and read his latest work, and explained the term 'Lovelace' was a harmless jest.

### [September 18th: My Beloved Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-18th-my-beloved-barbara-alexievna)

Attempts to console Gorshkov by remarking that money is more important than honor, but his comment seems to hurt Gorshkov.

### [September 19th: My Beloved Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-19th-my-beloved-barbara-alexievna)

Found Makar the copying job from a writer.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/characters/rataziaev
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/characters