Oblomoff not only represented the type of the landed proprietor, as developed by the institution of serfdom, but the racial type, which comprised the traits common to Russians in general, without regard to their social rank, class, or vocation.

In fact, so typical was this character that it furnished a new word to the language, "oblomovshtchina,"-- the state of being like Oblomoff.

Oblomoff carried the national indolence--"_khalatnost_," or dressing-gown laziness, the Russians call it in general--to such a degree that he not only was unable to do anything, but he was not able even to enjoy himself.

Added to this, he was afflicted with aristocratic enervation of his faculties, unhealthy timidity, incapacity to take the smallest energetic effort, dove-like gentleness, and tenderness of soul, rendering him utterly incapable of defending his own interests or happiness in the slightest degree.

And these characteristics were recognized as appertaining to Russians in general, even to those who had never owned serfs, and thus the type presented by Oblomoff may be said to be not only racial, but to a certain extent universal--one of the immortal types, like Don Quixote, Don Juan, Hamlet, and the like.