Kovalev
Kovalev is a low-level bureaucrat who takes himself and his social status very seriously. He calls upon several eligible ladies frequently with the hopes of marrying a rich one someday, and he calls himself "Major" Kovalev to increase his sense of importance. In "The Nose," Kovalev has the misfortune of losing his nose, which causes him great anxiety and distress. He attempts to first locate and then reattach his nose to no avail. One day, he wakes up to find his nose has reattached himself, and he is happy again.
Ivan Yakovlevich
Yakovlevich is a humble barber and a drunkard. His life is upended when, one day, he finds his customer Kovalev's nose inside his wife's freshly baked bread. He cannot remember how he has come into possession of the nose, and in trying to dispose of the incriminating object, he is caught by a policeman.
Narrator
The narrator reveals him or herself at the end of the story, providing commentary in the first person.
The Nose
Major Kovalev's nose, detached from his body, takes life as a government official ranked higher than Kovalev. Ivan Yakovlevich has the unhappy luck to find the stray nose and attempt to rid himself of it, but to no avail. The nose enlarges to the size of a human and begins parading about town disguised as a high-ranking government official. Eventually, the nose is returned to Major Kovalev by a police officer, but it refuses to reattach to the Major's face. Eventually, days later, Major Kovalev wakes up to find the nose firmly reattached to his face, as if it had never left.
Praskovya Osipovna
Praskovya is the wife of Yakovlevich. She becomes disgusted at finding the nose inside her bread, and furiously chastises her husband, threatening to call the police if he does not dispose of the nose.
The Constable
The constable summons Yakovlevich after watching him drop the nose off a bridge. He later visits Kovalev and informs him that the nose has been found.
Ivan
Ivan is Kovalev's valet. Kovalev chastises him and orders him around.
The Coachman
The coachman drives Kovalev in a coach across town in pursuit of the nose.
Alexandra Grigorievna
Alexandra is a wealthy widow and the mother of an eligible young woman who she wants to marry Kovalev. Kovalev accuses her of cursing him, but she is innocent.
Widow's Daughter
She is a young girl who Kovalev calls upon. He likes her and thinks she is pretty, but does not wish to marry her.
Doctor
The doctor is called in to treat Kovalev for his detached nose, but advises him not to reattach the nose. He recommends putting it in a bottle of spirits and then selling it to him.
Porter
The porter is the door-keeper by the Commissioner's Office.
Newspaper Clerk
Kovalev asks the clerk to publish an ad in the paper about the nose, but the clerk says it would ruin the paper's reputation. He then proceeds to insult Kovalev by inviting him to take a pinch of snuff, despite him not having a nose.
Police Inspector
Kovalev goes to the police to enlist their help in finding his nose. The inspector prefers to rest after his midday meal, however, and does not wish to help Kovalev. Kovalev is very insulted by this.
