# Yakov Ivanitch — Short Fiction character guide

> Yakov Ivanitch in Short Fiction by Anton Chekhov.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Yakov

**First appearance:** 0000-a-living-chattel

## Who they are

A former lackey turned village shopkeeper whose estranged daughter returns as a Moscow actress, forcing him to reckon with shame, memory, and grief.

## Relationships

### [Yakov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/characters/yakov)

_family_

Yakov and Yakov Ivanitch are likely brothers or close relatives, sharing a familial connection.

### [Yakov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/characters/yakov)

_family_

Yakov and Yakov Ivanitch are likely brothers or close relatives, sharing a familial connection.

## In the story

### [Agafya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/agafya)

Agafya's husband, a railway signalman. He stands motionless in the village road, watching his wife's return with a fixed, ominous gaze.

### [Difficult People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/difficult-people)

The small farmer and father, prone to violent outbursts and avarice, who feels guilt but cannot control his temper.

### [Rothschild's Fiddle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/rothschild-s-fiddle)

The protagonist, a seventy-year-old undertaker and fiddler, who is consumed by thoughts of financial loss and harbors a deep hatred for Rothschild. He neglects his wife Marfa for 52 years and only realizes his emotional failure after her death.

### [The Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/the-murder)

Yakov, the victim, whose rigid religious views provoke the fatal confrontation.

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

Matvey's cousin, a haughty and surly man who conducts his own religious services at home and refuses to attend the local church.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/ii)

Matvey's cousin, disliked for his different beliefs and for holding the family fortune; discussed as a target of legal action.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/iii)

A devout, strict old man who leads home prayers and is troubled by his cousin Matvey's accusations about usury and a stolen horse.

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

Yakov feels depressed by trade, longs to escape routine, and is troubled by his faith wavering; he perceives his life as savage and senseless.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/v)

Experiences a religious crisis, struggles with anger and guilt, and commits a violent act against Matvey.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/vi)

The tavern keeper who orchestrates the cover-up of Matvey's murder, pays off the waiter, and later is sentenced to twenty years of penal servitude.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/vii)

A convict nicknamed 'the Brush,' serving life in Sahalin after escape attempts and floggings; he yearns for home and reflects on his spiritual awakening.

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

Not present in this chapter.

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

Not present in this chapter.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/iii)

Andrey Andreitch, Nadya's fiancé, shows her the house, talks affectionately, expresses his idleness, and dreams of working in the country.

## Links

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