Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin Sr.

Although Golyadkin is initially referred to by his surname, he is ultimately referred to as Golyadkin Sr., reflecting his seniority as the original Golyadkin rather than the double. He works as a low-level clerk in the Russian bureaucracy, holding the title “titular counselor.” Despite his limited rank and humble income, Golyadkin Sr. has a servant and significant savings. However, his functional career belies a less-than-functional mind; the stress of his job, the anxiety of social interactions, and the gossip spreading about his character have driven Golyadkin to a breaking point. In the beginning, Golyadkin Sr. seems a bit odd: he dresses strangely, stutters often, and refers to people by their full names several times in a sentence. 

As time goes on, Golyadkin grows more and more mentally unstable. He acts irrationally in a misguided attempt to improve his social standing and accidentally commits faux pas after faux pas, none of which endear him to his peers and superiors. After an egregious social misstep, he begins to hallucinate, imagining that there exists a double of himself who plagues his every step and is responsible for his failing career. This double acts as a coping mechanism upon which he relies to shield himself from his failings and instead place blame on an external force. His reliance on this dysfunctional coping mechanism ultimately leads him to break with reality and wind up in an insane asylum. 

Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin Jr. 

Initially, Golyadkin Jr. is a pitiable figure; he lived a destitute, desperate life, and he is interested only in getting back on his feet. He bows his head when he speaks and defers to the authority of others, including Golyadkin Sr. The double’s humble demeanor, however, proves to be little more than a short-lived farce, which he used to lull Golyadkin Sr. into a sense of false security by playing to his arrogant desire to feel powerful and in control. Unlike his namesake, Golyadkin Jr. is a masterful conversationalist; he is charismatic, likable, and eloquent, so he proves far superior to Golyadkin Sr. in the social realm. Because Golyadkin Jr. is so successful in the office, he curries the favor of those in charge and rapidly turns them against Golyadkin Sr. 

The double is two-faced, which drives Golyadkin Sr. crazy; he sees Golyadkin Jr. for who he really is—a manipulative and vindictive devil desperate for power and influence—but he seems to be the only one. Although Golyadkin Jr. seems painfully real to Golyadkin Sr., the double’s supernatural elements draw the nature of his existence into question. While he may be a real person, it is more likely that Golyadkin Jr. is simply a hallucination conjured by the anxiety-ridden mind of his namesake, whom Golyadkin Sr. uses as a scapegoat for his failings. 

Petrushka

Petrushka is Golyadkin Sr.’s manservant. He is responsible for preparing Golyadkin’s food and clothing, waking him for work in the morning, and maintaining the household. Although he does his duties, he is a sullen and unhappy man who turns to alcohol to avoid the daily humiliations of his life. He dislikes his master and laughs at his anxieties and idiosyncrasies, neither of which endear him to the man. Golyadkin characterizes him as a poor worker and disrespectful layabout but ultimately misses Petrushka’s presence when he leaves for another job with a more reputable master.

Christian Ivanovich Rutenspitz

  According to the signage on his office door, Christian Ivanovich Rutenspitz is a doctor, surgeon, and psychiatrist. He is an older man with well-established routines and does not take kindly to disruptions. While he engages in talk therapy,...