# Masha — Short Fiction character guide > Masha in Short Fiction by Anton Chekhov. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** little Masha, Masha Shelestov, old Shelestov, Shelestov, red-haired Masha, poor Masha **First appearance:** 0000-a-living-chattel ## Snapshot Anna Akimovna's red-haired maid, twenty and hopelessly in love with the footman Mishenka, who wakes her mistress on Christmas morning and sighs over marrying an old man. ## Who they are Masha is the maid who lights the candle, calls Anna Akimovna three times, and despairs that the service is already over. Tightly laced and dressed up for Christmas, she wishes her mistress the holiday and then confesses her fear of turning twenty with no marriage in sight, joking grimly that she would take an old man. Everyone in the house knows she has loved Mishenka the footman for three years without hope. Her patient, passionate loyalty shadows the mistress's own restless Christmas longings. ## Relationships ### [Denis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/characters/denis) _romantic_ Denis and Masha are lovers or sweethearts, with a tender and affectionate bond. ### [Denis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/characters/denis) _romantic_ Denis and Masha are lovers or sweethearts, with a tender and affectionate bond. ### [Denis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/characters/denis) _romantic_ Denis and Masha are lovers or sweethearts, with a tender and affectionate bond. ## In the story ### [A Tragic Actor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/a-tragic-actor) The police captain's daughter who falls in love with the tragedian Fenogenov, runs away with him, and endures abuse. ### [The Album](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/the-album) Zhmyhov's daughter, who takes the album and replaces the clerks' portraits with her school friends. ### [The Requiem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/the-requiem) Mashutka, Andrey Andreyitch's daughter, remembered in his reflections as a child and later as an actress. ### [A Day in the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/a-day-in-the-country) A six-year-old beggar-girl who bravely runs through the village to find Terenty when her brother is in trouble. ### [The Lottery Ticket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/the-lottery-ticket) The wife who owns the lottery ticket; she shares in the daydreams but also harbors suspicion and anger toward her husband over the potential winnings. ### [Boys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/boys) Masha, the youngest sister, is puzzled by Lentilov's strange talk and associates his name with lentils, showing her innocence. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/i) The Armenian girl whose beauty deeply impresses the narrator and his grandfather. ### [The Teacher of Literature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/the-teacher-of-literature) Masha is a central figure in the teacher's romantic life, representing the ideal of love and the complexities of marriage. ### [The Proposal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/i) Nikitin's beloved; she accepts his kiss and later urges him to speak to her father. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/ii) Nikitin's wife, who is content with their domestic life, sleeping peacefully and managing the household with practical care. ### [II: Christmas Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/ii-christmas-morning) The red-haired maid, hopelessly in love with Mishenka, who serves Anna Akimovna and receives her confidences. ### [IV: Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/iv-evening) Red-haired Masha, Anna Akimovna's maid, who is exhausted and sleepy, and later cries with her mistress in shared misery. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/iv) Not present in this chapter. ### [Marriage and New Beginnings at Dubetchnya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/x) The narrator's wife; she insists on a quiet wedding, drives the chaise, and shares in the planning of their new life at Dubetchnya. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/xi) The narrator's wife, who stays at the mill, refuses to see the narrator's father, and insists on consistency. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/xii) Masha is deeply distressed by the estate's disorder, the peasants' demands, and the engineer's criticism; she sleeps poorly and seeks solace in reading and study. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/xiii) Expresses indignation at the peasants' theft and dishonesty, regrets building the school, and increasingly confides in Dr. Blagovo rather than her husband. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/xiv) Sister's confidante; she and the sister often whisper together, and the sister clings to her to avoid being alone with the narrator. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/xv) Masha drives to Kurilovka with the narrator for the school dedication. She reflects on the futility of their work and advocates for art as a powerful tool for change. She is moved to tears by the peasants' gifts. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/xvi) The narrator's wife, who goes to town frequently, sings at the Azhogins' rehearsal, and departs for Petersburg, showing a new, defiant beauty and independence. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/xviii) The narrator's beloved, who has left town; he constantly wonders when she will return. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/xix) Writes a letter announcing her departure for America and requesting a divorce. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/iv) Marya's eldest daughter Motka, who joins Sasha in the ravine, rolls down the slope, and is also beaten by Granny. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as one of the women (Marya) fussing and weeping near her hut during the fire. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/characters/masha - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/characters