The First Love of Zinaida

Turgenev's "First Love" is presumably about the first love of the main character, Vladimir. However, we can also view it as the description of the first experience of love for Zinaida, the bachelorette, as well. Zinaida, who seems incapable of having any true affection for her suitors, falls in love with someone outside of their immediate social circle, a person who seems to show no compassion to her, and someone who literally abuses her- Vladimir's father.

Her infatuation with Vladimir's father is perhaps resulting from the dissatisfaction she experiences from the constant swooning and appeasement her suitors show to her, but it could also be the result of a repressed desire to win the love of someone she can ultimately not have, the very situation her suitors are caught in. Zinaida is drawn to the hostility that Vladimir's father shows, and she seems to be predisposed towards being caught in romantic liaisons that are inherently unworkable and bored with living a common monogamous relationship of the day.