# Byelikov — Short Fiction character guide

> Byelikov in Short Fiction by Anton Chekhov.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** this Byelikov

**First appearance:** 0332-the-man-in-a-case

## Snapshot

A Greek teacher who wraps himself in layers of clothing, umbrellas, and rules, terrified that something might happen.

## Who they are

Byelikov walks the streets of a provincial town even on clear days in galoshes and a warm coat, his face hidden behind a collar, his watch and penknife each in its own case. He praises the past and distrusts anything new, and his colleagues find him both ridiculous and strangely authoritative. His terror of life's unpredictability makes him a grotesque mirror of the fear that can rule a small community.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as the landowner Byelokurov, but the canonical ID 'byelikov' is used here as a placeholder; however, the character is actually Pyotr Petrovitch Byelokurov, not Byelikov. Correcting: The character is Pyotr Petrovitch, so the entry above is correct.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/iv)

Not present in this chapter.

### [The Man in a Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/the-man-in-a-case)

The Greek teacher known as 'the man in a case,' who nearly marries Varinka but is undone by his fear of ridicule and scandal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/characters/byelikov
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/characters