Nicholas Markovitch

Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov

Close friends and intellectual companions, often discussing ideas and supporting each other.

Vera Michailovna

Nicholas is deeply in love with Vera, but their relationship is fraught with tension and unspoken feelings.

Henry Bohun

Henry and Nicholas are competitors for Vera's affection, leading to mutual antagonism.

Nina Michailovna

Nicholas and Nina are friendly and supportive, often acting as intermediaries in the love triangle.

Jerry Lawrence

Jerry and Nicholas are direct rivals for Vera's love, leading to tension and jealousy.

Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov

Close friends and intellectual companions, often discussing ideas and supporting each other.

Alexei Petrovitch Semyonov

Close friends and intellectual companions, often discussing ideas and supporting each other.

Henry Bohun

Henry and Nicholas are competitors for Vera's affection, leading to mutual antagonism.

Henry Bohun

Henry and Nicholas are competitors for Vera's affection, leading to mutual antagonism.

Vera Michailovna

Nicholas is deeply in love with Vera, but their relationship is fraught with tension and unspoken feelings.

Nina Michailovna

Nicholas and Nina are friendly and supportive, often acting as intermediaries in the love triangle.

Vera Michailovna

Nicholas is deeply in love with Vera, but their relationship is fraught with tension and unspoken feelings.

VI

The host, a thin, anxious man with thinning hair and a reddening nose, who invites the narrator to his home.

VIII

Vera mentions that her husband has started drinking again and is lying about it, worrying her deeply.

XIII

Silent and nervous, watching his wife and Semyonov during the party.

XV

Husband of Vera; Bohun is advised to befriend him.

XVI

Vera's husband, struggling with his failed inventions and influenced by Uncle Alexei.

Chapter XVII

Mentioned by Nina in her list of those who would fight if the country belonged to many.

Chapter XVIII

Vera's husband; mentioned as part of the romantic complication.

XX

Mentioned as Vera's husband who suspects her relationship with Lawrence.

XXII

Host; tries to be agreeable but is drawn into a political argument; shows jealousy and desperation toward Vera.

I

Found hiding in the narrator's room, having searched for a letter from his wife. He confronts Bohun about Lawrence and eventually calms down.

Nina's Day

Nina's brother-in-law; his inventions are criticized by Semyonov as selfish and wasteful.

VII

Silent and glowering at dinner; retreats to his workshop after eating.

VIII

Durward obsessively thinks about Markovitch, seeing him as the dark horse and center of the story; appears in a dream as a hunted figure.

XI

Central narrator of the chapter; recounts his experiences on Revolution day, his love for Vera, and his disillusionment.

XII

Present during the conversation; visibly agitated and trembling.

XIV

Returns home euphoric, works on inventions, then spies Vera and Lawrence kissing, leading to his emotional collapse.

Part III: Markovitch and Semyonov

Markovitch recounts his story of the revolution day, revealing his idealism and subsequent disillusionment.

II

Mentioned as someone Durward wonders about, but who has not visited him.

III

Has given up his inventions and is moody and secretive since the Revolution.

V

Mentioned as having changed drastically after the Revolution; gave up his inventions and allowed Semyonov to move in.

VI

Vera's long-time companion; she plans to tell him about Lawrence but delays; he is influenced by Semyonov.

VIII

Drinks heavily, is taunted by Semyonov about the Revolution, and confesses he saw Vera's love for another man.

IX

Mentioned in Bohun's description of the strange mood at the flat; seen standing behind Semyonov with a strange look.

Chapter X

Lawrence describes Nicholas as weak, knowing about the kiss, and going off his dot, which is a key reason for Lawrence's decision to leave.

XI

Mentioned as one of the people Semyonov has harmed, and as a possible target of Semyonov's pursuit.

XII

Engages in a bitter argument with Semyonov, accusing him of stealing his inventions and Vera's love; later seen in a trance-like state, holding a revolver and turning a portrait to the wall.

XIII

Writes a desperate letter to Durward expressing his despair over Vera's love for Lawrence and Semyonov's manipulation.

XIV

Mentioned as asleep in the armchair at the Markovitch flat; Vera later expresses her contempt for him.

XVI

The man the narrator feels responsible for; he follows Semyonov to Katerinhof, shoots him, then turns the revolver on himself, dying in the narrator's arms.