What is the surname of the protagonist in 'Oblomov'?

The protagonist’s surname in Ivan Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov” is Oblomov. His full name is Ilya Ilyich Oblomov, and his unusual passivity gives the novel its central psychological and social subject.

Published in 1859, the novel follows a wealthy landowner who struggles to take action, manage his estate, or leave the comfort of his bed and apartment. Oblomov’s inactivity is not presented simply as personal laziness; it reflects his sheltered upbringing, inherited social position, and resistance to the demands of modern life.

Readers sometimes confuse Oblomov with other names in the novel. Andrey Stoltz is his energetic childhood friend, Olga Ilyinskaya is his love interest, and Zakhar is his longtime servant. Goncharov is the author’s surname, not the protagonist’s. The word “Oblomovism” later entered Russian cultural vocabulary to describe excessive passivity or inertia.