Nikolai, a middle-aged widower and moderately wealthy landowner, is a gentle, peacemaking man who particularly dislikes confrontation. Nikolai is especially devoted to his son Arkady, going so far as to relocate to St. Petersburg for most of his son’s university career in order to remain near him.

Nikolai’s first priority is domestic harmony, which is often in danger of being broken. One source of disruption is Nikolai’s limited estate management abilities, which mean not pressing his peasants for quitrent and being uncomfortable with the responsibility of managing his serfs, or soon-to-be tenant farmers. Another source of discomfort is Nikolai class-crossing romantic relationship with Fenechka, the daughter of a servant, with whom Nikolai has a son. Marrying Fenechka would resolve some of the instability, but Nikolai does not want to upset his much more class-conscious brother Pavel or embarrass Arkady by doing so.

Arkady brings the most serious domestic disturbance home—his best friend Bazarov. Nikolai does his best to accommodate Bazarov, though he is uncomfortable with Bazarov’s radical views and brusque temperament. Nikolai loves music, nature, and poetry—pursuits that mark him as traditional and old-fashioned in Bazarov’s nihilist philosophy. Mostly, Nikolai is worried that Bazarov’s disapproval will influence Arkady and create a gap between father and son.