# Serge — What Is to Be Done? character guide

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

**Role:** minor

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

## Who they are

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance of the main circle.

## In the story

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

Serge remains phlegmatic and cynical, advising Julie that saving Vera is impossible and accepting the Russian principle of not fighting fate.

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

Arrives with Julie at the end of the chapter.

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

Accompanies Julie as interpreter; engages Marya Alekséyevna in conversation to gather information about Storeshnikof.

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

Mentioned as Julie's kind, refined, and complaisant lover.

### [III: Viéra Pavlovna’s Second Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/chapters/iii-vi-ra-pavlovna-s-second-dream)

Attempts to confess but is dismissed for his superficial concerns.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/characters/serge
- 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