The Village of Stepanchikovo and Its Inhabitants

Main Characters and Their Development

• Yegor Ilyich Rostanev - a retired colonel, a good-natured and gentle man who strives to please everyone around him. Throughout the book, he tries to find a balance between his desires and the demands of those around him, especially Foma Opiskin.
• Foma Fomich Opiskin - a former servant who, through his eloquence and manipulation, becomes the de facto head of the Rostanev household. He is selfish, vain, and constantly seeks power and recognition. His influence over other characters gradually wanes as the plot unfolds.
• Sergey Alexandrovich - Rostanev's nephew, a young man with strong moral principles. He arrives in Stepanchikovo and becomes a witness and participant in all the intrigues, striving to help his uncle break free from Foma Opiskin's influence.
• Natalya Dmitrievna - a young woman whom Sergey Alexandrovich loves. She is intelligent, beautiful, and possesses a strong character. Her relationship with Sergey develops against the backdrop of the struggle with Foma Opiskin.
• Tatyana Ivanovna - Rostanev's mother, a domineering and capricious woman who is completely under Foma Opiskin's influence. Throughout the book, she gradually realizes Foma's true nature and his manipulations.