A wealthy and comfortable widow who reigns over a grand estate (Nikolskoye) on her own. After unfortunate years and the reputation of a bad father, she had entered a marriage of convenience with a wealthy older man, and upon his death, became the mistress of everything. She maintains the rigid, comfortable daily routine she established with Katya (her sister) and her odd aunt. However, after encountering Bazarov's rebellious passion and sharp ideas, she experiences a brief moment of curiosity and awakening in her life. Nevertheless, her essential search for effortless comfort prevents this fire of predatory nihilism (the possibility of love), and she rejects Bazarov.
After her gambler and swindler father left her orphaned and destitute, she took authority in the household and entered into a marriage of convenience with the reclusive elderly landowner, Odintsov. She has never known love or youthful passion.
She is a woman of charming smoothness, tall with perfect posture, incredibly rounded shoulders, and lustrous hair; she has intelligent and calm eyes beneath a broad white forehead. She glides magnificently in heavy black silk dresses.
Katerina Sergeyevna (Katya)
Her younger sister, whom she keeps in subordination and in her shadow.
Yevgeniy Vasilyeviç Bazarov
The intellectual lover whom she both rejects and subjects to excitement and fear simultaneously.
Arkadiy Nikolayeviç Kirsanov
The young, naive youth she finds sympathetic but does not consider a real man.