Stepan

Stepan, whose real name is Vladimir Ivanovich, is the protagonist of “The Story of an Unknown Man.” Stepan is a nobleman who poses as a servant in the household of a government official on behalf of an unnamed cause. As Stepan spends more time in this house, he gradually loses faith in his mission before eventually abandoning it altogether.

At the start of the novella, Stepan has a hard time adjusting to life as a servant. His privileged lifestyle and inherent pride make being ignored feel strange to him. His illness makes him hyperaware of all that goes on around him as approaching death forces Stepan to take stock of his life.

Stepan encountering Orlov’s father marks a turning point in his character development. Up until the moment that Stepan lets Orlov’s father go unharmed, Stepan is still able to pretend that he believes in his...