# Thedora — Poor Folk character guide > Thedora in Poor Folk by Fyodor Dostoevsky. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Thedora **First appearance:** 0001-april-8th-my-beloved-makar-alexievitch ## Snapshot Barbara's elderly servant and steadfast confidante, a woman of few means and fierce loyalty who offers practical help when the world offers none. ## Who they are Thedora shares Barbara's cramped lodgings and her poverty, yet she is the one who advises, borrows, and stands ready to turn interlopers out the door. She is neither sentimental nor passive; her counsel is blunt and her presence steady. She matters because she grounds Barbara's story in the daily texture of survival—work, rent, and the small alliances that make endurance possible—and because her loyalty throws the betrayals of others into sharp relief. ## Relationships ### [Monsieur Bykov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/characters/monsieur_bykov) _professional_ Bykov employs Thedora as a servant or intermediary, using her to manage his affairs and communicate with others. ### [Anna Thedorovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/characters/anna_thedorovna) _professional_ Anna Thedorovna employs or supervises Thedora, using her as a servant or go-between in her manipulative schemes. ## In the story ### [April 8th: My Dearest Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/april-8th-my-dearest-barbara-alexievna) Mentioned as living with Barbara; Makar praises her kind heart despite her grumbling. ### [April 8th: My Beloved Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/april-8th-my-beloved-makar-alexievitch) Barbara's servant, who cleans her room and has informed Barbara about Makar's past circumstances. ### [April 9th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/april-9th-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Mentioned as being greatly disturbed about Barbara's illness. ### [April 25th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/april-25th-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Mentioned as over-exaggerating Barbara's condition; Barbara reassures Makar that she is not seriously ill. ### [May 20th: My Dearest Little Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/may-20th-my-dearest-little-barbara) Mentioned as having spread rumors about Makar; he calls her a vindictive woman. ### [June 11th: How I Thank You for Our Walk to the Islands Yesterday, Makar Alexievitch!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/june-11th-how-i-thank-you-for-our-walk-to-the-islands-yesterday-makar-alexievitch) Mentioned as being unwell alongside Barbara. ### [June 20th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/june-20th-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Tells Barbara about the uniform for sale; Barbara describes her as devoted and reminiscent of her old nurse. ### [June 21st: My Own, My Darling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/june-21st-my-own-my-darling) Makar mentions learning from Thedora that Barbara needed the money he sent. ### [June 27th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/june-27th-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Informs Barbara about the governess position and sells a carpet for fifty roubles on Barbara's behalf. ### [June 28th: My Dearest Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/june-28th-my-dearest-barbara-alexievna) Makar blames her for influencing Barbara's decision to leave, calling her a foolish old woman. ### [My Dear Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/my-dear-makar-alexievitch) Mentioned as the servant who works tirelessly from dawn to night. ### [My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Brought Barbara fifteen roubles and warned her about Makar's financial troubles. ### [July 27th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/july-27th-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Informed Barbara that Makar was discovered drunk in the street and taken home by the police. ### [July 28th: My Priceless Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/july-28th-my-priceless-barbara-alexievna) Mentioned as having done well to get fifteen roubles for Barbara. ### [July 28th: Dearest Little Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/july-28th-dearest-little-barbara) Mentioned as the source of the rumor about an unworthy suitor visiting Barbara. ### [July 29th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/july-29th-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Mentioned as an excellent cook who prepares meals for Barbara. ### [August 2nd: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/august-2nd-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Obtained work for herself and Barbara, and suspects Anna Thedorovna is behind Barbara's misfortunes. ### [August 4th: My Beloved Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/august-4th-my-beloved-makar-alexievitch) Barbara's companion who helps turn the old man out and advises moving; she will help Barbara find work to repay the loan. ### [August 5th: Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/august-5th-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Barbara mentions Thedora's opinion that staying in the tenement might be prudent to avoid suspicion. ### [August 13th: My Beloved Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/august-13th-my-beloved-makar-alexievitch) Has been ailing for three days, adding to Barbara's anxiety. ### [August 14th: What Is the Matter with You, Makar Alexievitch?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/august-14th-what-is-the-matter-with-you-makar-alexievitch) Mentioned as having informed Barbara that she can no longer help Makar, and as a source of stories about her pilgrimages. ### [August 19th: My Dearest Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/august-19th-my-dearest-barbara-alexievna) Makar criticizes her as a 'rubbishy, tiresome, gabbling old woman' in his letter. ### [September 3rd: The Reason Why I Did Not Finish My Last Letter, Makar Alexievitch, Was That I Found It So Difficult to Write](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-3rd-the-reason-why-i-did-not-finish-my-last-letter-makar-alexievitch-was-that-i-found-it-so-difficult-to-write) Barbara's companion who has gone out for the day, leaving Barbara alone and afraid. ### [September 9th: My Dearest Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-9th-my-dearest-barbara-alexievna) Mentioned by Makar as someone he wishes to pray for his Excellency alongside Barbara. ### [September 10th: My Beloved Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-10th-my-beloved-makar-alexievitch) Mentioned as helping Barbara get along and hoping to recover an old debt. ### [September 11th: My Darling Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-11th-my-darling-barbara-alexievna) Mentioned as someone whose advice Barbara should disregard. ### [September 15th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-15th-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Met Bwikov in the street, confronted him, and later reported his visit to Barbara. ### [September 23rd: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-23rd-my-dearest-makar-alexievitch) Barbara's companion; she was out during Bwikov's visit and later advises Barbara about happiness. ### [September 23rd: My Beloved Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-23rd-my-beloved-barbara-alexievna) Makar references Thedora's opinion that Barbara will be happy, but dismisses her as a gossiping old woman. ### [September 27th: Dear Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-27th-dear-makar-alexievitch) Thedora is acting as Barbara's servant during the wedding preparations. ### [September 29th: My Own Barbara Alexievna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-29th-my-own-barbara-alexievna) Informs Makar of Barbara's impending marriage and departure; Makar plans to rent Barbara's old room from her. ### [September 30th: My Beloved Makar Alexievitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/chapters/september-30th-my-beloved-makar-alexievitch) Barbara's letters are left in the top drawer of Thedora's chest of drawers. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/characters/thedora - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poor_folk_se/characters