# Evelyn — Short Fiction character guide > Evelyn in Short Fiction by Vladimir Korolenko. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Pani Evelyn, Pani, So Pani Evelyn **First appearance:** 0001-short-fiction ## Snapshot Pani Evelyn is the voice and presence a blind young man longs to see, the beloved whose intangible something he can never quite unite into a whole. ## Who they are Evelyn moves through the blind Peter's world as the woman he loves and longs to see—her words, voice, and movements haunting his memory even as they refuse to cohere. More than a year of gloom and nervous irritability has sharpened his senses and deepened his desire, and he tells her plainly that one dream of sunlight, of his father and mother, of her and Uncle Maxim, would satisfy him forever. Her presence is the pressure that pushes Peter's crisis of self-consciousness toward its breaking point. ## Relationships ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/peter) _romantic_ Evelyn and Peter share a romantic relationship, possibly as lovers or a married couple. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/peter) _romantic_ Evelyn and Peter share a romantic relationship, possibly as lovers or a married couple. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/peter) _romantic_ Evelyn and Peter share a romantic relationship, possibly as lovers or a married couple. ## In the story ### [III: “The Slayer”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii-the-slayer) The lady and mother whom the narrator saves; she shows compassion, advocates for his release, and sends money and letters. ### [The Blind Musician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/the-blind-musician) A character who forms a significant bond with Petrùsya, offering companionship. ### [III: The First Friendship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii-the-first-friendship) The daughter of the new neighbors, Yaskùlski and his wife, she is a mature, blue-eyed girl about Petrùsya's age. She approaches him with curiosity and later comforts him after his outburst. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv) The girl who approaches Petrùsya, initially confused by his behavior, but later shows sympathy and comfort upon learning he is blind. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi) The girl who comes daily to the Popèlski mansion and becomes Uncle Maxim's pupil. ### [IV: Blindness—Vague Questions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv-blindness-vague-questions) The fair-haired girl from the estate, whose friendship with Petrùsya deepens through mutual sympathy; she is deeply affected by his blindness. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v) The fair-haired girl from the estate of the Possessor; she becomes Petrùsya's close companion, offering calmness and knowledge of life while sharing his sorrow. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi) Present on the terrace, she affirms Petrùsya's sensitivity and knowledge of the star. ### [V: Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v-love) Comforts Peter, reassures him of his worth, and later shows emotional distress over his despair. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i) Has imperceptibly grown to womanhood, watching the enchanted tranquillity with calm gaze and occasional wonder but no impatience. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii) A seventeen-year-old girl with a calm, serious demeanor; she defends the idea that each person must choose their own career, showing maturity beyond her years. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv) Evelyn's eyes express sympathy and alarm; she argues with Maxim about Peter's exposure to the guests. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v) Evelyn receives the young men coolly but is drawn into a personal conversation that unsettles her, leading her to leave and overhear Maxim and Anna discussing her. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi) The young girl who comforts Peter, reveals her love, and declares her intention to marry him, despite his blindness. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii) Enters with Peter, composed and defiant under Maxim's gaze. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii) Watches the blind musician with rapt attention, interpreting the music in her own imaginative way. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix) She touches Peter's hand and whispers joyously that he too will have work in the world, noticing the effect of his playing on others. ### [VI: The Crisis—An Attempt at Synthesis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi-the-crisis-an-attempt-at-synthesis) Peter's companion and love interest; her words at the mill awaken his love and his desperate longing to see her. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i) Her words from the previous day echo in Peter's mind, triggering his inner crisis. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii) Peter confides in her about his desire to see. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi) Rises to draw the shade, is arrested by Peter's voice, and lays her hand on his lips to stop him from talking. ### [VII: Intuition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii-intuition) Announces her firm intention to marry the blind man, marries him, and gives birth to their child. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i) Announces her firm intention to marry the blind man, Peter. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii) Peter's wife, recovering after childbirth; Peter envisions her with blue eyes and fair hair, hearing her voice as 'scarlet tones of love.' ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/epilogue) The fair-haired young woman, said to be the blind musician's wife, who leads him onto the platform. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii) The American woman, depicted as an enchanted princess under her father's control, taking solitary walks in the dusk. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix) The American woman; invites the narrator fishing, speaks with a firm, slightly mocking tone, and skillfully catches fish. ### [The Last Ray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/the-last-ray) Appears briefly, her presence evoking a sense of nostalgia and unspoken emotion. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/evelyn - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters