Nevsky Prospect

Main Characters and Their Development

• Piskaryov - a young artist, dreamy and romantic, who falls in love with a stranger on Nevsky Prospect. His love turns tragic when the girl is revealed to be a prostitute. Piskaryov cannot come to terms with this and ultimately ends his life.
• Pirogov - a lieutenant, practical and down-to-earth, who also falls for a woman he meets on Nevsky Prospect. Unlike Piskaryov, Pirogov does not idealize his beloved and ultimately finds himself defeated in his attempts to win her heart. His story ends comically when he is punished for his advances.