Pnin

Main Characters and Their Development

• Timofey Pavlovich Pnin - the main character of the book, a Russian émigré and professor at an American college. Pnin is a kind-hearted man who struggles to adapt to a new life and culture. His life is full of minor mishaps and comical situations, yet he maintains his dignity and humanity. Throughout the narrative, his deep attachment to the past and the tragic moments of his life, such as the loss of his family and homeland, are revealed.
• Liza Bogolepov - Pnin's ex-wife, with whom he has a complex and painful relationship. Liza is a selfish and manipulative woman who uses Pnin for her own interests. Her character highlights the contrast between Pnin's naivety and kindness and the cruelty of the world around him.
• Victor - Liza's son from another marriage, to whom Pnin feels a deep attachment. Victor is a talented and sensitive teenager who, despite his youth, understands and appreciates Pnin more than his mother does.
• Laurence Clements - Pnin's colleague, a literature professor. Clements is an intelligent and kind-hearted person who supports Pnin and helps him adapt to his new environment.
• Henry Wind - the dean of the department where Pnin works. Wind is a man of double standards who, on one hand, values Pnin's professional qualities but, on the other, fails to understand and accept him as a person.