Arkady Nikolayevich Kirsanov
Arkady is an idealistic 22-year-old Petersburg University graduate, newly returned to his home estate of Maryino, in a rural Russian province. He is the son of Nikolai and Masha. Arkady brings home his new…
read analysis of Arkady Nikolayevich Kirsanov
Yevgeny Vassilyich Bazarov
Bazarov is a self-confident young nihilist whom Arkady befriends at Petersburg University. He is the son of Vassily and Arina. Bazarov studies natural science, hoping to become a doctor, and he rejects authoritative principles…
read analysis of Yevgeny Vassilyich Bazarov
Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov
Nikolai, age 44, is a member of the Russian gentry. He was formerly married to Masha, with whom he had Arkady, and is in a relationship with Fenichka when the book begins; they…
read analysis of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov
Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov
Pavel is Nikolai’s brother, who is in his 40s, and lives on the Maryino estate with Nikolai. In his late 20s, Pavel fell in love with an eccentric woman of the aristocracy, Princess R.…
read analysis of Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov
Madame Anna Sergeyevna Odintsov
Anna Odintsov is a clever, wealthy young widow whom Arkady and Bazarov meet at Kolyazin’s ball. Both men quickly become infatuated with her. Anna and her younger sister, Katya, were orphaned by a…
read analysis of Madame Anna Sergeyevna Odintsov
Get the entire Fathers and Sons LitChart as a printable PDF.
Katya Odintsov
Katya is Anna Odintsov’s younger sister, age 18. Dominated by her sister and guardian, Katya is very shy and reserved. She spends most of her time playing the piano or playing with her dog…
read analysis of Katya Odintsov
Fedosya Nikolayevna (Fenichka)
Fenichka is Nikolai’s lover and the mother of his son Mitya. She is 23 years old, a delicate-looking young woman. She joined the household when Nikolai hired her mother as his housekeeper. After…
read analysis of Fedosya Nikolayevna (Fenichka)
Vassily Ivanych Bazarov
Vassily is Arina’s husband and Bazarov’s father. He is an emotional, well-read, talkative, and hospitable rural gentleman. Vassily is a retired army doctor who now runs a country farm and doctors peasants on…
read analysis of Vassily Ivanych Bazarov
Arina Vlassyevna Bazarov
Arina is Vassily’s devoted wife and Bazarov’s doting mother. She is an “old school” Russian gentlewoman, devout, superstitious, and a believer in the firm distinction between gentry and peasant. She is also kind-hearted…
read analysis of Arina Vlassyevna Bazarov
Victor Sitnikov
Sitnikov is an elegant, rather shrill, self-proclaimed “disciple” of Bazarov. He likes to move in the most fashionable circles in society. He introduces Arkady and Bazarov to Madame Kukshin and Madame Odintsov. When…
read analysis of Victor Sitnikov
Masha Prepolovensky
Masha was Nikolai’s first wife and Arkady’s mother who does not appear in the story. She was the daughter of Nikolai’s landlord, and they fell in love, enjoying a blissful life for a…
read analysis of Masha Prepolovensky
Princess R. (Nellie)
Princess R. was an eccentric, inscrutable Russian aristocrat with whom Pavel fell helplessly in love in his youth. She was both a frivolous partier in society and tearfully devout in private. Pavel followed Princess R…
read analysis of Princess R. (Nellie)
Minor Characters
Piotr
Piotr is Nikolai’s young servant. His “single turquoise ear-ring,” dyed hair, and “mincing gait” mark him as a man of “the advanced modern generation.” He also refuses to kiss his employer’s hand, unlike the older servants. Piotr is the only witness to Bazarov’s and Pavel’s duel.
Matvei Ilyich Kolyazin
Kolyazin, 40, is a governmental privy councilor and a relative of the Kirsanovs. He is an up-and-coming politician and a progressive, vain and sly but good-natured. Arkady and Bazarov meet Anna Sergeyevna Odintsov when they attend a ball in Kolyazin’s honor.
Madame Yevdoxia Kukshin
Madame Kukshin is an “advanced” young woman whom Sitnikov introduces to Bazarov and Arkady. She is separated from her husband, rather plain and disheveled-looking, and always on edge. She studies chemistry as a hobby and has invented unbreakable dolls’ heads. Later she goes to Germany to study architecture.
Prokofyich
Prokofyich is an old-school servant in the Kirsanov household. He dislikes Bazarov.
Mitya
Mitya is the infant son of Nikolai and Fenichka, and Arkady’s much younger half-brother.
Father Alexei
Father Alexei is Vassily and Arina’s good-natured parish priest. He drinks wine and plays cards with Bazarov and Arkady.
