# Vera Doukhova — Resurrection character guide

> Vera Doukhova in Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Doukhova, Vera

**First appearance:** 0045-xlii

## Snapshot

A midwife turned revolutionary who, exiled and radiant with purpose, asks Nekhludoff to free friends she may have doomed.

## Who they are

She belongs to the political prisoners' world, a woman who wrote proclamations in factories and now counts herself perfectly happy behind bars. Her mind is a tangle of causes and half-explained loyalties, yet her guilt over an arrested friend is painfully concrete. She matters because she hands Nekhludoff his first practical tasks in Petersburg and quietly steers him toward Maslova's transfer, showing how the prison's networks work.

## In the story

### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xlix)

Sends a note to Nekhlúdoff from prison; a former schoolteacher and now a political prisoner; recalls their earlier meeting when Nekhlúdoff gave her money for her studies.

### [L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/l)

A political prisoner and former teacher; Nekhlúdoff requests permission to visit her as well.

### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/li)

Political prisoner whom Nekhlúdoff requests to see; she is in the tower.

### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/liii)

The inspector remembers to send for her when Nekhlúdoff arrives at the office.

### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/liv)

Mentioned by the inspector as arriving, though not yet seen in the excerpt.

### [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/lv)

Thin, yellow, with large kind eyes; recounts her involvement in the Nardovólstvo and asks Nekhlúdoff to help her friends.

### [LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/lvi)

Nekhlúdoff takes leave of her as the visit ends.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xiv)

Has written to Nekhlúdoff requesting help to free her friend Shoústova and to get permission for a mother to visit her son in prison.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xxiv)

Mentioned in Shoustova's mother's note as a reason for Nekhlúdoff to visit.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xxv)

Mentioned as the one who asked Nekhlúdoff to intercede for Shoústova; described as selfless and happy in her fate.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xxvi)

Recipient of the letter that the aunt gives to Nekhlúdoff.

### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xxix)

Political prisoner whom Nekhlúdoff wishes to visit but is denied by the new inspector.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/i)

Political prisoner who advised Nekhlúdoff to arrange for Máslova to travel with the politicals.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xi)

Rolling cigarettes in the room; she proposes a collective protest about the morning's incident.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xiii)

Prone to falling in love herself, she is sometimes drawn to Nabátoff or Novódvoroff.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xv)

One of the women in love with Novódvoroff on the journey.

### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xvii)

Present in the room, sleeping and occasionally moaning, while Nekhludoff waits.

### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/xx)

Walking with Katúsha and Símonson, having taken Mary Pávlovna's place.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/characters/vera_doukhova
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/resurrection_se/characters