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Dmitri Gurov is the protagonist of “Lady with the Dog.” Through Dmitri, Chekhov examines ideas about world-weariness and an individual's quest for self-understanding. From the story's outset, Dmitri searches for distraction outside the bounds of his marriage and the stuffy gentlemen’s society in Moscow. As his relationship with Anna deepens, the protagonist recognizes that he has misrepresented himself to women over the years. With this recognition comes a deeper sense of need and a drive for emotional—rather than material—fulfillment. Back home, Dmitri’s life seems empty and unrewarding, and he is haunted by the memory of his naïve young lover. As Donald Rayfield notes, Chekhov contrasts Dmitri’s cynicism and feelings of disillusionment with Anna's idealism and romanticism. Dmitri is a complex figure and his characterization has inspired much debate among Chekhov scholars. The ambiguity surrounding Dmitri’s character can, in part, be attributed to his contradictory nature. For example, he denigrates women and refers to them as "the lower race” while simultaneously admitting that he feels more comfortable around women than he does around men. Dmitri may be interpreted as an aging seducer entering the twilight of his womanizing years who dupes Anna just as he realizes that he has deceived himself for a long time. However, the protagonist can equally be understood as a man searching for conviction who is enchanted and ultimately redeemed by the innocent romanticism of his young lover, which forces him to reexamine his views of the world.
