Hermann is the protagonist of “The Queen of Spades.” He is a young officer in the Russian military but, unlike his friends, he was not born into wealth. His friends and fellow officers, such as Tomsky and Narumov, come from aristocratic families and, accordingly, are not worried about the money they lose when playing cards. Hermann is different. Not only is he ethnically German rather than Russian, but he also saves as much money as he can. After inheriting a modest amount from his parents, he lives only on his salary, and he refuses to indulge in his natural tendency towards gambling as he wants to elevate his status in society. He denies himself the indulgence of gambling so that he can dedicate his life to acquiring a fraction of the wealth that his friends take for granted.

The story of the countess’s card trick changes Hermann. It needles at his character, tempting him with the idea that he can gamble his way to wealth without risk. He can both indulge himself and become as wealthy as his friends. The trick offers Hermann everything he has ever wanted, but it demands that he sacrifice his morality to obtain its secret.