The Laptevs’ warehouse

The Laptevs’ warehouse is where all their business gets done. The narrator describes, “This was a rather large room, but owing to the perpetual darkness, the low ceiling, and the crowding of boxes, bundles, and scurrying people, it made as ill-favored an impression on a fresh person as the two below” (360). This dreary description enables the reader to understand why Laptev thinks of the warehouse as a jail, and why he wants nothing to do with it.

Pyanitskaya

Pyanitskaya is the Laptev family’s home. They also offer board to their salesclerks. Laptev has horrible memories of his childhood home, where his father would beat him. He resents having to move into Pyanitskaya; he views it as the end of all possible happiness.

Yulia’s hometown

Yulia’s hometown is a boring, small place. One of the reasons she accepts Laptev’s proposal is because it...