In a usual family, it is typically thought that the male is the provider, the one who supplies the money and enforces the rules in the house. However, in Turgenov's First Love, we see many of those qualities coming from Zinaida, a Russian princess deprived of wealth but loved by everyone. Most people that she comes into contact with become dominated by her, she tells them what to do, and they happily obey her. She tricks each of them into a false illusion of love and uses that to exercise power over them. This makes her feel as if she is in charge of their lives, and that she is the dominant one. She is just waiting for someone to come and control her, to be strong enough to break the seal of false love and reveal her real feelings that she has never shown to anyone. Zinaida has achieved the power that many people crave, but with great power comes great responsibility.
             Zinaida has a control over men that she knows exists and uses it to give her that rush of power that many people crave. When Vladimir first see her he gets a feeling that he believes is love. "...and there was in the girl's movements something so enchanting, imperious and caressing, so mocking and charming, that I nearly cried out with wonder and delight" (26). When this girl enters his vision, he feels a mixture of emotion. He is lifted into a world of bliss when he sees this graceful beauty and the sight of her seems to be taunting him internally. He feels he must have her and is willing to do anything for her to make her happy, and he hasn't even met her yet. Zinaida uses this feeling of false love that many men feel towards her to manipulate them and have power over them. Her many suitors that come over and play forfeits with her are her puppets and she is the master, she pulls their strings and they do what she wants. Many of the men know they are being led on by this attractive young lady, but they stay because they are ol...