Misail Poloznev

Misail is the protagonist and narrator of “My Life.” He is the son of the town’s architect, Alexander Pavolich. When the novella begins, he is 25 years old.

Misail struggles to fit the mold of what is expected of a young nobleman. Incapable of keeping a job, his father worries endlessly over what to do with him. Misail’s vision of abandoning his life of comfort for one of hardship causes him to lose his father. Misail regrets this, as he is a family man at heart. Still, Misail remains close with his sister Cleopatra. He worries about her often and does his best to keep her from harm.

Throughout the novella, Misail remains distressed by the widespread corruption he encounters. He despises those of the nobility, who all take bribes and treat the lower classes with disdain. Misail’s dissatisfaction with the world around him only...