Ivan Andreitch Laevsky

Nadyezhda Fyodorovna

Laevsky and Nadyezhda are in a tumultuous, co-dependent romantic relationship marked by mutual resentment and fading passion.

Samoylenko

Samoylenko is Laevsky's loyal, protective friend who often mediates and tries to help him out of trouble.

Von Koren

Von Koren is Laevsky's intellectual and moral antagonist, openly contemptuous of Laevsky's weakness and hypocrisy.

Alexandr Daviditch

Alexandr Daviditch is a friendly, easygoing companion of Laevsky, often joining him in social gatherings.

Kirilin

Laevsky and Kirilin are rivals over Nadyezhda, with Kirilin's predatory behavior fueling Laevsky's jealousy and shame.

Marya Konstantinovna

Laevsky and Marya Konstantinovna are strained acquaintances, with her disapproving of his relationship with Nadyezhda.

Sheshkovsky

Laevsky and Sheshkovsky are casual acquaintances, often present at the same social events.

Atchmianov

Atchmianov is a rival of Laevsky for Nadyezhda's attention, creating tension and jealousy.

Nikodim Alexandritch

Laevsky and Nikodim Alexandritch are polite, superficial acquaintances within the town's social network.

Samoylenko

Samoylenko is Laevsky's loyal, protective friend who often mediates and tries to help him out of trouble.

Von Koren

Von Koren is Laevsky's intellectual and moral antagonist, openly contemptuous of Laevsky's weakness and hypocrisy.

Samoylenko

Samoylenko is Laevsky's loyal, protective friend who often mediates and tries to help him out of trouble.

I

Opens up to Samoylenko about his disillusionment with Nadyezhda Fyodorovna and his plans to conceal news of her husband's death.

II

Laevsky is consumed by disgust for Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, feeling that everything she does is a lie. He fantasizes about running away to Petersburg and contemplates his debts and his moral responsibility for her husband's death.

III

Absent from the dinner but is the central subject of Von Koren's denunciation, described as a dissolute, self-deceiving 'superfluous man.'

IV

Subject of Von Koren's intense criticism, described as a nonentity and a harmful influence.

VI

Expresses boredom and cynicism about the picnic and nature; argues with Von Koren about art and love.

VII

Feels humiliated by Von Koren's hatred, tries to appease him by expressing envy of naturalists, and grows lively with wine.

VIII

Exhausted by the picnic and his hatred of Von Koren, he cruelly calls Nadyezhda a 'cocotte' and immediately feels remorse.

IX

In despair after giving Nadyezhda the letter, he flees to Samoylenko to borrow money for escape, then becomes animated and philosophical over wine.

Chapter X

Apologizes to Nadyezhda for his rudeness at the picnic; anxiously presses Samoylenko for money to escape by Saturday, trembling with impatience.

XI

Discussed as the intended recipient of the loan; Von Koren accuses him of planning to abandon Nadyezhda.

XII

Anxiously seeks money from Samoylenko to flee, fixates on Friday as his escape day, and realizes he will need a lifetime of deception.

XIII

Receives two anonymous notes, suffers a hysterical attack, and later tries to conceal his shame by claiming a pain in his side.

XIV

Leaves the party to go play Vint, unaware of Kirilin's confrontation with Nadyezhda.

XV

Visits Samoylenko to borrow money, challenges Von Koren to a duel, and later discovers Nadyezhda with Kirilin, leading to a state of despair.

XVII

Spends the night in anguished self-reflection, cursing his past, writing a letter to his mother that he later scratches out, and contemplating his imminent duel.

XVIII

Arrives at the duel site with his seconds; the deacon notes he looks like an old man, walking with bowed back.

XIX

Laevsky is present for the duel, exhausted and guilt-ridden after discovering Nadyezhda's infidelity. He fires into the air, unable to shoot Von Koren.

XX

Returns home after the duel, feeling a strange, sweet delight in familiar objects and reconciling with Nadyezhda.

XXI

Has transformed after the duel, working hard to pay debts and living modestly; receives Von Koren's farewell and reflects on the search for truth.