Von Koren

Ivan Andreitch Laevsky

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

Samoylenko

Samoylenko and Von Koren are friends despite frequent arguments, with Samoylenko often acting as a peacemaker between Von Koren and Laevsky.

Sheshkovsky

Sheshkovsky is a friend and ally of Von Koren, sharing his intellectual and moral views.

Nadyezhda Fyodorovna

Von Koren openly despises Nadyezhda, viewing her as a corrupting influence and a symbol of moral decay.

Ivan Andreitch Laevsky

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

Ivan Andreitch Laevsky

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

Sheshkovsky

Sheshkovsky is a friend and ally of Von Koren, sharing his intellectual and moral views.

Samoylenko

Samoylenko and Von Koren are friends despite frequent arguments, with Samoylenko often acting as a peacemaker between Von Koren and Laevsky.

Nadyezhda Fyodorovna

Von Koren openly despises Nadyezhda, viewing her as a corrupting influence and a symbol of moral decay.

Samoylenko

Samoylenko and Von Koren are friends despite frequent arguments, with Samoylenko often acting as a peacemaker between Von Koren and Laevsky.

III

Delivers a harsh critique of Laevsky, calling him a 'blackguard' and a 'cholera microbe,' and enumerates his corrupting influence on the town.

IV

Delivers a harsh condemnation of Laevsky as a corrupt and dangerous degenerate, advocating for his isolation or destruction.

VI

Discusses his planned expedition with the deacon; engages in a philosophical debate with Laevsky.

VII

Exhibits clear hatred toward Laevsky, which Laevsky perceives as well-grounded and humiliating.

VIII

Delivers a scathing critique of Nadyezhda as a depraved kept woman and argues for compulsion against her; states he would not hesitate to destroy Laevsky if commissioned.

IX

Discussed by Laevsky as a despotic, strong-willed man who would make a military genius, and whom Samoylenko urges Laevsky to reconcile with.

XI

Debates with Samoylenko, criticizes Laevsky's plan, and reluctantly lends money with conditions.

XII

Criticizes Laevsky's cohabitation as moral laxity, arguing that societal repugnance is a natural force against degeneracy.

XIII

Observes Laevsky's breakdown with cold irony and disgust; later explains phosphorescence on the beach.

XV

Present at Samoylenko's, engages in a tense exchange with Laevsky, and accepts his challenge to a duel.

XVI

Engages in a heated philosophical debate with the deacon, advocating for a rational, eugenicist view of love and morality, and dismisses the duel as trivial but inevitable.

XVII

Mentioned as the man whose hatred and cold theory of life justify the destruction of the useless; Laevsky expects him to kill him in the duel.

XVIII

Thought of by the deacon as having a splendid head but cruelty in him; the duel is being arranged against him.

XIX

Von Koren is determined to fight, rejecting reconciliation. He takes aim at Laevsky but misses after being distracted by the deacon's shout.

XX

Exhausted and dispirited after the duel, he admits he was tempted to kill Laevsky but missed his aim.

XXI

Departs by steamer, visits Laevsky to say goodbye and admits his past error, showing admiration for Laevsky's transformation.