The Luzhin Defense

Main Characters and Their Development

• Luzhin — the main character, a talented chess player who shows extraordinary skills in the game from childhood. His life is completely consumed by chess, leading to alienation from the real world and mental health issues. As he grows up, Luzhin becomes an internationally recognized grandmaster, but his obsession with chess intensifies, ultimately leading to a nervous breakdown and a tragic end.
• Luzhin's wife — an unnamed character who becomes Luzhin's wife and tries to help him cope with his mental problems. She shows care and patience, but her efforts are not enough to save Luzhin from his internal struggle.
• Valentinov — Luzhin's former mentor, who discovered his chess talent in childhood and helped him develop as a chess player. However, over the years, their paths diverge, and Valentinov becomes only an episodic character in Luzhin's life.