Agraphena Petrovna

Agraphena Petrovna is the former lady's maid of Nekhludoff's mother, who becomes his housekeeper after her mistress's death. She is a stout, middle-aged woman in mourning, with a lace cap covering the widening parting of her hair. Having spent nearly ten years at different times abroad with Nekhludoff's mother, she has the appearance and manners of a lady. She has lived with the Nekhludoffs from childhood and has known Dmitri Ivanovitch since he was still "little Mitinka." She is perceptive about his personal affairs, particularly his relationship with Princess Mary Korchagin, and she disapproves of his plan to marry Katerina Maslova, considering it unnecessary and impractical. She is practical, loyal, and deeply attached to the Nekhludoff family, but ultimately leaves his service when he decides to simplify his life.

Identity and Background

Agraphena Petrovna is introduced as a stout, middle-aged woman in mourning, a lace cap covering the widening parting of her hair. She was formerly lady's maid to Nekhludoff's mother, who had died quite recently in the very house where she now serves as housekeeper. She had spent nearly ten years, at different times, abroad with Nekhludoff's mother, and as a result she has the appearance and manners of a lady. She has lived with the Nekhludoffs from the time she was a child, and has known Dmitri Ivanovitch since he was still "little Mitinka." She glides into rooms, takes a crumb brush which is not in its place and puts it away, and sails out again, showing her familiarity with the household.

Role in Nekhludoff's Life

Agraphena Petrovna is deeply involved in Nekhludoff's domestic life and personal affairs. She brings him a letter from the princess, either the mother or the daughter, with a significant smile, indicating that she expects him to marry Princess Mary Korchagin. This supposition of hers annoys Nekhludoff. She is also present when Nekhludoff returns home after the trial, and he tries to avoid her by going into the drawing-room and shutting the door. When he tells her he no longer needs the large lodging nor her services, she is surprised and shakes her head, saying, "See about the things? Why, they'll be required again." She advises him not to take his guilt so to heart, saying, "It happens to every one, and if one's reasonable, it all gets smoothed over and forgotten." She is practical and loyal, but ultimately leaves his service when he decides to simplify his life, going to her married niece.

Relationship with Nekhludoff's Sister

Agraphena Petrovna accompanies Nekhludoff's sister, Nathalie, to the railway station to see him off. She stands some way off, in a waterproof and with a bonnet on her head, and bows to him with kindly dignity and some confusion, not wishing to intrude. When Nekhludoff tells his sister about the two prisoners who have been done to death, Agraphena Petrovna exclaims, "Oh, Lord!" showing her concern. She is present during the final parting between brother and sister, a witness to the emotional farewell.

Change and Ending

When Nekhludoff decides to change his life, he tells Agraphena Petrovna with more firmness than he thought himself capable of that he no longer needs the lodging nor her services. She looks at him in surprise and shakes her head, saying, "See about the things? Why, they'll be required again." He insists they won't, and tells her to inform Corney that he will pay him two months' wages but shall have no further need of him. She says, "It is a pity, Dmitri Ivanovitch, that you should think of doing this. Well, supposing you go abroad, still you'll require a place of residence again." He tells her she is mistaken, that he is not going abroad, but to quite a different place. He then tells her about Katusha, and she remembers teaching her how to sew. She says, "Well, now this is very strange; how could you do it all?" and advises him not to place it to his account, saying, "There's no need." He insists on his guilt, and she finally says, "I am not thinking about myself. I have been so bountifully treated by the dear defunct, that I desire nothing. Lisenka (her married niece) has been inviting me, and I shall go to her when I am not wanted any longer." She leaves his service, but not before he feels a kindly respect for her, and for Corney, from the moment he realized that it was he who was so bad and disgusting to himself.

Thematic Significance

Agraphena Petrovna represents the old, stable, comfortable world of the Nekhludoff family that Dmitri is trying to leave behind. She is a figure of continuity, loyalty, and practical wisdom, but she cannot understand or accept his radical moral transformation. Her departure marks a definitive break with his past life, and her practical objections to his plans highlight the difficulty and cost of his spiritual awakening. She is a reminder of the human cost of his change, not in terms of suffering, but in terms of the loss of familiar relationships and the comfort of a well-ordered life.