Who is Prince Nekhludoff?

Nekhludoff begins as typical aristocrat — affair with servant, inherits estates, serves on jury. Maslova’s trial triggers moral crisis; he follows case through appeals, visits prisons, gives land, travels to Siberia. Tolstoy shows backsliding: vanity with Missy, disgust at Maslova’s world, then deeper humility.

He is Tolstoy’s post-conversion self partially fictionalized — yet flawed throughout. Not savior but penitent learning limits of individual fix for systemic sin.