# Vasilísa the Fair — Russian Folktales character guide

> Vasilísa the Fair in Russian Folktales by A. N. Afanasyev.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Vasilísa

**First appearance:** 0027-vasil-sa-the-fair

## Snapshot

A pope's daughter who rides astride, shoots a gun, drinks vodka, and passes as a man until Tsar Bárkhat sets a trap to test her true nature.

## Who they are

Vasilísa Vasílyevna lives as Vasíli Vasílyevich, hunting and drinking in male dress, and few suspect she is a maiden. When Tsar Bárkhat hears the truth, he hangs an embroidery-frame and a flintlock in his palace to catch her instinct. Her sharp refusal of the frame and her defiant scolding of the Tsar drive the early comedy and suspense, as she outmaneuvers every test of her identity.

## Relationships

### [Iván Tsarévich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/ivan_tsarevich)

_romantic_

Vasilísa is Iván's beloved, often rescued or won through his trials, leading to marriage.

### [Bába Yagá](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/baba_yaga)

_psychological_

Bába Yagá tests and torments Vasilísa, acting as a fearsome but sometimes instructive antagonist.

### [Iván Tsarévich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/ivan_tsarevich)

_romantic_

Vasilísa is Iván's beloved, often rescued or won through his trials, leading to marriage.

### [Bába Yagá](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/baba_yaga)

_psychological_

Bába Yagá tests and torments Vasilísa, acting as a fearsome but sometimes instructive antagonist.

### [Iván Tsarévich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/ivan_tsarevich)

_romantic_

Vasilísa is Iván's beloved, often rescued or won through his trials, leading to marriage.

### [Bába Yagá](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/baba_yaga)

_psychological_

Bába Yagá tests and torments Vasilísa, acting as a fearsome but sometimes instructive antagonist.

## In the story

### [Vasilísa the Fair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/vasil-sa-the-fair)

The protagonist, a kind and beautiful maiden who is mistreated by her stepmother but protected by her mother's blessing and a magical doll.

### [Vasilísa Popóvna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/vasil-sa-pop-vna)

Disguised as a man named Vasíli Vasílyevich, she cleverly evades Tsar Bárkhat's tests to reveal her maidenhood.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/vasilisa_the_fair
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters