Poor Liza

Main Characters and Their Development

• Liza: The main heroine of the novella, a young and beautiful peasant girl who lives with her mother in the village. Liza is characterized by her simplicity, sincerity, and purity of soul. She falls in love with the young nobleman Erast, leading to tragic consequences. Unable to bear the betrayal and disappointment, Liza ultimately takes her own life by drowning in a pond.
• Erast: A young nobleman who falls in love with Liza. Initially, he is genuinely enamored with her, but over time his feelings wane. Erast proves to be a weak and fickle person, unable to resist societal norms and his own weaknesses. Eventually, he marries a wealthy widow and abandons Liza, leading to her demise.
• Liza's Mother: A widow who lives with her daughter in the village. She cares for Liza and tries to provide her with a decent life. Liza's mother embodies the image of a kind and caring woman who, despite hardships, maintains hope for a better future. Her grief after her daughter's death underscores the tragedy of the entire story.