# Varvara Alexeievna Ostapenko — The Faraway Bride character guide

> Varvara Alexeievna Ostapenko in The Faraway Bride by Stella Benson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Varvara, the usually restrained Varvara, Poor little Varvara Alexeievna

**First appearance:** 0004-ii

## Snapshot

Pavel Ostapenko's proud, watchful wife, forever forcing her husband's drunken eccentricities into the Procrustes frame of Ostapenko dignity before strangers can judge them.

## Who they are

Varvara Alexeievna sits divided between resenting that her husband is drunk and resenting that guests might notice, her wifely pride demanding each Ostapenko be presented neatly fitted to her inelastic standard. Tall, melancholy, with a dark birthmark on one cheek, she listens and walks on tiptoe as though expecting a call. Her vigilance shapes the tense social atmosphere of the Ostapenko household, and her small act of leading Tatiana away quietly shatters the glass bubble enclosing her daughter and Seryozha.

## Relationships

### [Pavel Ostapenko](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se/characters/pavel_ostapenko)

_family_

Pavel Ostapenko and Varvara Alexeievna Ostapenko are family members, likely husband and wife or close relatives.

### [Pavel Ostapenko](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se/characters/pavel_ostapenko)

_family_

Pavel Ostapenko and Varvara Alexeievna Ostapenko are family members, likely husband and wife or close relatives.

### [Pavel Ostapenko](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se/characters/pavel_ostapenko)

_family_

Pavel Ostapenko and Varvara Alexeievna Ostapenko are family members, likely husband and wife or close relatives.

## In the story

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

Varvara defends Tatiana's right to be herself, arguing that people cannot be changed by force. She reflects on the nature of genius and strangeness, and supports her daughter despite the family conflict.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se/chapters/viii)

Leaves to fetch champagne; whispers to Seryozha not to judge Tatiana by love.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se/chapters/x)

Anxiously monitors the guests' reactions to Pavel's behavior, then retires with Tatiana, later questioning Pavel about the marriage contract.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se/chapters/xi)

Brings breakfast and is rebuffed by Pavel; leads the retreat from the room with calm authority.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se/chapters/xiii)

Attempts to maintain normal conversation during Isaev's visit, flutters anxiously during Pavel's departure.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se/characters/varvara_alexeievna_ostapenko
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faraway_bride_se/characters