The House I Live In

A geologist whose frequent expeditions keep him away from home. He embodies the distant, serious husband whose absence strains his marriage, and his fate in the war underscores the price paid by many families. He dies in the war, leaving questions about purpose and loyalty unresolved.

Dmitri's wife who experiences a lack of love in her marriage and enters into an affair with Konstantin. She faces guilt, social judgment, and the ache of an unfulfilling relationship. After the war, she seeks to rebuild her life as healing emerges through softened attitudes from Klavdiya.

A soldier from the Davydov family who becomes involved with Lida. He returns from the war disabled, illustrating the personal costs of conflict and the strain on familial bonds.

The Davydovs’ son who harbors feelings for his childhood friend Galya. He returns from the war as a hero and pursues geology, signaling a search for purpose beyond family expectations.

An aspiring actress whose dreams clash with family and societal expectations. Her artistic ambitions are cut short when she is killed in the war, ending a bright, creative thread in the story.

Konstantin's mother, initially condemning Lida but gradually softening toward her. She embodies traditional values while also showing the possibility of forgiveness amid upheaval.

An elder figure anchoring the family with experience and perspective, representing continuity and wisdom as the characters navigate upheaval.

Dmitri and Lida's child, a witness to evolving family dynamics in the post-war era, whose presence helps shape the healing process.

A neighbor or friend within the communal setting, representing the everyday social network that supports or tests the main characters.

A member of the Davydov family navigating the war's consequences, contributing to the broader arc of resilience and renewal.