# Mademoiselle Julie — What Is to Be Done? character guide

> Mademoiselle Julie in What Is to Be Done? by Nikolay Chernyshevsky.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Julie, Julia, Julie Le Tellier

**First appearance:** 0016-part-ii-first-love-and-legal-marriage

## Snapshot

A Parisian courtesan whose champagne-soaked candor and sudden gusts of dignity make her the most unpredictable guest at Vera's wedding celebration.

## Who they are

Julie arrives at the Lopukhovs' as a woman of the world, but within hours she is wrestling Vera on the sofa, weeping over virtue, and ordering breakfast offhand. Her worldly talk of dissipated lives both embarrasses and fascinates the sheltered Vera, who watches her like a doctor studying a beautiful face disfigured by disease. Yet Julie's genuine enthusiasm for the sewing workshop—and the customers she brings—makes her an unlikely ally in Vera's first bid for independence.

## Relationships

### [D](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/characters/d)

_social_

D and Mademoiselle Julie are acquaintances within the same social milieu, with no deep emotional ties.

### [D](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/characters/d)

_social_

D and Mademoiselle Julie are acquaintances within the same social milieu, with no deep emotional ties.

### [D](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/characters/d)

_social_

D and Mademoiselle Julie are acquaintances within the same social milieu, with no deep emotional ties.

## In the story

### [Part I: The Life of Viéra Pavlovna in Her Parents’ Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/chapters/part-i-the-life-of-vi-ra-pavlovna-in-her-parents-family)

A worldly and sympathetic figure who offers Viéra advice and warnings about Storeshnikof's intentions.

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

Julie passionately defends Vera's honor, denounces Storeshnikof's lies, and resolves to warn Vera despite Serge's cynical advice.

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

Arrives with Serge at the end of the chapter.

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

Visits Vera to warn her about Storeshnikof's wager and her mother's potential future schemes; reveals her own unconventional lifestyle but offers genuine help.

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

Acts as the rescuer, imposing conditions on Storeshnikof and advising him to marry Vera for his own advantage.

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

Julie accompanies Viérotchka to the Gostinui Dvor, advises her to accept Storeshnikof's proposal, but later recants, confessing her own corruption and warning Viérotchka to flee society.

### [Part II: First Love, and Legal Marriage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/chapters/part-ii-first-love-and-legal-marriage)

A friend who warns Vera about Storeshnikof's intentions and supports her independence.

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

Referenced as the cynical, ruined French girl who finds her relations with Sergei detestable despite his kindness.

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

Receives Vera's visit, celebrates her marriage, and promises to recommend the sewing shop to acquaintances.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/chapters/xxiii)

Mentioned in Viéra Pavlovna's story as 'sweet Julie' who behaves dramatically.

### [Part VI: Change of Scenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/chapters/part-vi-change-of-scenes)

The lady in mourning who now wears a bright pink dress, hat, and white mantilla, accompanied by Mosolof and Nikítin.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced in a note about Nekrásof's poem describing a girl like Julie.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/characters/mademoiselle_julie
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/characters