Meliton (Ivan Bunin)

Meliton is a character in Ivan Bunin's short story "The Gentleman from San Francisco". He is the proprietor of the Grand Oriental Hotel on Capri, where the titular gentleman and his family stay. Meliton is depicted as an obsequious and shrewd businessman, keenly aware of the social hierarchy and eager to cater to the wealthy clientele. He is described as a handsome man with a calm, self-assured demeanor, a symbol of the polished European service that the gentleman expects. While appearing attentive and concerned, Meliton's primary interest lies in the financial benefits derived from the tourists. His role highlights the contrast between the superficial glamour enjoyed by the wealthy and the underlying realities of social and economic disparity. He embodies the commercialism and superficiality that Bunin often critiques in his works. His interactions with the American family underscore the theme of the illusory nature of happiness and status.