An Honest Thief

Main Characters and Their Development

• Emelyan Ilyich — the main character of the story, a poor and honest man who, despite his poverty, tries to live by his conscience. He finds himself in difficult circumstances that lead him to theft, but his honesty and remorse ultimately prevail.
• Astakhov — the owner of the apartment where Emelyan Ilyich lives. He is a kind and compassionate person who tries to help Emelyan despite his wrongdoing.
• Alexey Ivanovich — the narrator, who observes the unfolding events and shares his thoughts and feelings about Emelyan Ilyich's fate.