Gurov’s Wife Character Analysis in The Lady With the Dog

Gurov’s Wife has been married to Gurov for over ten years at the start of the story and had three children with him, but she does not come with him to Yalta. She is described as tall and erect, with dark eyebrows and a cold, dignified manner. While she considers herself to be very intellectual, Gurov thinks now that she’s rather affected, unintelligent, and lacks any real feeling. She seems at least partially aware of Gurov’s feelings for Anna after he returns to Moscow, but never directly confronts him about his infidelities. She is mostly an impediment to Gurov’s happiness before, during and (one presumes) after the end of the story.

Gurov’s Wife Character Timeline in The Lady With the Dog

The timeline below shows where the character Gurov’s Wife appears in The Lady With the Dog. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...on his experience with women. He has a twelve-year-old daughter and two sons with his wife, whom he married young and has long been unfaithful to. His bitter experiences have led... (full context)

...reflects on the many women he has been with, some “cheerful” and “grateful,” others—like his wife—insincere and hysterical, and finally those women were beautiful yet domineering and cold. (full context)

Gurov returns to his Moscow routine—going through life with his wife and his daughter, dining out, and entertaining in his bourgeois social circle. It already feels... (full context)

Gurov has to settle for talking vaguely of love, but even this raises his wife’s suspicions, and she tells him that he doesn’t suit the part of a fop. He... (full context)