The Black Monk

Main Characters and Their Development

• Andrey Vasilyevich Kovrin - the main character, a scholar and philosopher. At the beginning of the novella, he suffers from nervous exhaustion and goes to the countryside to visit his old friend Tatyana Pesotskaya. There, he begins to see hallucinations of a black monk who convinces him of his uniqueness and genius. Gradually, Kovrin loses touch with reality, his condition worsens, and he dies at the end of the story.
• Tatyana Pesotskaya - the daughter of Kovrin's old friend, Yegor Semyonovich Pesotsky. She genuinely loves Kovrin and marries him. Tatyana cares for her husband and tries to help him cope with his illness. However, despite her efforts, she cannot save Kovrin from his self-destruction.
• Yegor Semyonovich Pesotsky - Kovrin's old friend and Tatyana's father. He owns the garden where Kovrin comes to rest. Pesotsky is a kind and caring man who is genuinely concerned for Kovrin and his daughter. He also tries to help Kovrin deal with his illness, but unsuccessfully.