A Dreary Story

Main Characters and Their Development

• Nikolai Stepanovich - the main character and narrator, a professor of medicine experiencing a midlife crisis and disillusionment with life and profession. His inner world is filled with doubts and anxieties, and he feels disconnected from his family and society.
• Katya - Nikolai Stepanovich's adopted daughter, a young woman also undergoing an internal crisis. She struggles to find her place in life, suffering from loneliness and misunderstanding, leading to her depression and despair.
• Vera Gavrilovna - Nikolai Stepanovich's wife, who remains in the background, but her presence and relationship with her husband highlight his alienation and inability to find comfort in family life.
• Mikhail Fyodorovich - a friend and colleague of Nikolai Stepanovich, who contrasts with the main character. He is more optimistic and self-assured, emphasizing Nikolai Stepanovich's internal conflict and disappointment.