Smoke: Analysis of Major Characters
"Smoke: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate relationships and emotional struggles of several key figures in a narrative centered around themes of love, ambition, and societal expectations. The protagonist, Grigóry Litvinov, is a farmer’s son determined to modernize his father's estate but finds himself torn between two women: Tatyana, his kind-hearted fiancée, and Irina, his former love who embodies both beauty and emotional complexity. Tatyana, depicted as dignified and intuitive, ultimately displays grace in the face of betrayal, while Irina represents a passionate yet conflicted character, caught between romantic aspirations and societal obligations.
Other characters, such as Sozont, Litvinov’s philosophical friend, and General Ratmirov, Irina's husband, enrich the narrative by embodying contrasting perspectives on life in Russia amidst societal upheaval. The dynamics among these characters highlight the tension between personal desires and the constraints imposed by social class and morality. The story’s exploration of these relationships invites readers to consider the emotional burdens and moral dilemmas faced by individuals in a rapidly changing society. This character analysis provides insight into the motivations and challenges that define their interactions and decisions, making it a compelling exploration of human experience.
Smoke: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Ivan Turgenev
First published: Dym, 1867 (English translation, 1868)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Germany and Russia
Plot: Social realism
Time: 1862–1865
Grigóry Litvinov (grih-GOH-rihy liht-VEE-nof), a farmer's son. Wishing to farm progressively on his father's estate, he has tried to learn scientific agriculture by studying modern practices in several European regions. His plans for marriage to Tatyana and for modernizing his father's estate are interrupted by the temporary resurrection at Baden of his former love for Irina and the breaking off of his engagement to Tatyana. Observant and thoughtful, he is repelled by the impractical windiness of the group of liberals who associate with Gubaryov at Baden and likewise by the shallow, aimless, and bored existence of Irina, her husband, and their aristocratic friends. His break with Tatyana pains him because he is ashamed of casting her off so unexpectedly and hurting her so deeply. Although his passion for Irina consumes him until he is willing to give up everything for her, his pride will not let him live as one of her hangers-on. Irina's refusal to leave with him brings him such grief as he had earlier brought Tatyana, but it is combined with shame over being rejected a second time by Irina and by guilt over his treatment of Tatyana. Hard work enables him to make some progress in improving conditions on the estate that he inherits on his father's death. His abject plea for forgiveness after more than two years is accepted by the generous Tatyana, and they are married at last.
Tatyana Petrovna Shestov (tah-TYAH-nah peht-ROHVnuh shehs-TOHF), called Tanya (TAH-nyuh), his fiancée, plump, blonde, heavy-faced, brown-eyed, kind, and good. Intuitively, she guesses that Irina is the cause of her rejection by Litvinov. She is shocked and hurt, but she does not attack him with angry abuse; she accepts her fate with quiet dignity and leaves Baden, the scene of her humiliation. When Litvinov later goes to her home and, kneeling, begs her to forgive him, she is at once surprised, frightened, and happy.
Kapitolina Markovna Shestov (kah-pih-toh-LIH-nuh mahr-KOHV-nuh), Tanya's maiden aunt. Talkative and completely provincial in outlook, she is both fascinated and morally shocked by the gambling and other evidences of dissolute life at Baden. Litvinov thinks her absurd but appears to respect her piteous but vain attempts to make him change his mind about breaking his engagement to Tanya.
Irina Pavlovna Osinin Ratmirov (ih-RIH-nuh PAHVlov-nuh oh-SIH-nihn raht-MIH-rof), the oldest daughter in a family of noble ancestry but straitened circumstances. In her youth, Litvinov was infatuated with and informally engaged to Irina, a tall, slim girl with a willful, passionate nature and a cold heart. After throwing over Litvinov to live in Count Reisenbach's home, she inspired many rumors and much gossip before she married General Ratmirov. When Litvinov meets her ten years later, she has become a truly beautiful woman, and he is captivated again. Although she declares her love and means it, she is unwilling to do as Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina did and forsake all that she has to go with her lover; at the same time, aware of her power, she will not let him go. Litvinov is finally strong enough to compel her to make a choice. Her decision to continue the life she must have to survive brings him temporary misery but eventual freedom and salvation. Irina moves in a social world of luxury and evil yet somehow seems above and apart from that evil. Her ironical intellect stirs fear in the men and the women who know her, as if they, like her, recognize her superiority to them.
General Valerian Vladimirovitch Ratmirov (vah-leh-rihAHN vlah-DIH-mih-ro-vihch), Irina's youthful-looking, elegant, and dandified husband, who appears unconcerned about Litvinov's visits to his wife and the time she spends with other men. As a military man, he symbolizes the combination of cruelty and aristocratic indifference to the masses that helped to bring about the Russian Revolution.
Sozont Ivanitch Potugin (soh-ZOHNT ih-VAH-nihch pohTEW-gihn), a retired clerk who becomes Litvinov's friend; he is broad-shouldered, short-legged, curly-haired, mournful-eyed, and potato-nosed. Soft-voiced and philosophical, he enunciates the author's own views of Russia and the Russians, whom he both loves and hates. He loves the culture and civilization of the West and foresees that the Russia of the future will develop out of a borrowing from and an assimilation of Western ideas and technical advancements. A kind of errand boy used by Irina in the past, he warns Litvinov against an involvement with her.
Rostislav Bambaev (rohs-tihs-LAHF bahm-BAH-ehf), a good-natured, good-for-nothing Muscovite, flabby-nosed, soft-cheeked, greasy-haired, fat, crude, impecunious, exclamatory, and enthusiastic. When Litvinov meets him on his trip to see Tatyana, he has become a butler for the Gubaryov brothers.
Stepan Nikolaevitch Gubaryov (steh-PAHN nih-koh-LAYeh-vihch gew-bahr-YOHF), Bambaev's friend at Baden, a nervous strider and beard-twitcher who stimulates his liberal-thinking friends but remains silent himself. A theorizer rather than a doer, when he occasionally talks he spouts dirty stories at which he guffaws.
Bindasov (bihn-DAH-sof), a surly, repulsive sponger to whom Litvinov lends money he knows will not be returned. He is killed in a tavern brawl.
Prince Pavel Vassilyevitch Osinin (PAH-vehl vahs-SIHlyeh-vihch), Irina's father, an opportunist who willingly exploits his daughter's charms.
Count Reisenbach (RI-zehn-bahkh), a wealthy, middle-aged, and childless chamberlain, bloated, wrinkled, haughty, and evil-mouthed, who in effect buys Irina as a pretty ornament for his home. It is not clear whether she became his mistress before her marriage to General Ratmirov.
Semyon Yakovlevitch Voroshilov (seh-MYOHN YAHkov-leh-vihch voh-roh-SHIH-lof), a good-looking, fresh-faced, and dignified follower of Gubaryov, showily sophisticated and esoteric at times and sententiously silent at others.
Matrona Semyonovna (maht-ROH-nah seh-MYOH-novnuh), a childless, frail, and middle-aged widow. She is a convulsively intense talker and capricious theorist.