# Joachim — Short Fiction character guide

> Joachim in Short Fiction by Vladimir Korolenko.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** IV Joachim, IV One

**First appearance:** 0001-short-fiction

## Snapshot

A storyteller of comic proverbs and fairy tales who gathers the village children around the blind boy, filling the silence with voices he can hear but never see.

## Who they are

Joachim is the mansion's resident teller of tales, a man whose comical proverbs and folk stories draw the village children together and give the blind boy his first taste of company. The children supplement his tales with their own lore of devils and witches, and the talk grows lively — yet the blind boy listens without laughing, unable to see the twinkle of eyes or the twitch of mustaches that make the humor live. Joachim's storytelling matters because it shows both the richness and the limit of a world built entirely from sound, and it plants the boy's hunger for a life beyond the walls of the estate.

## Relationships

### [Uncle Maxim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/uncle_maxim)

_friendship_

Joachim and Uncle Maxim are old friends or allies, possibly from military or revolutionary past.

### [Uncle Maxim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/uncle_maxim)

_friendship_

Joachim and Uncle Maxim are old friends or allies, possibly from military or revolutionary past.

## In the story

### [II: The Sources of Musical Feeling—The Blind Boy and the Melody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii-the-sources-of-musical-feeling-the-blind-boy-and-the-melody)

The stableman whose pipe and folk songs captivate the blind boy, becoming a rival to the mother for the child's musical affection.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii)

The shepherd whose pipe playing from the stable creates the soft musical tones that enchant the boy.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv)

A skilled musician who crafts a pipe after his violin falls into disuse following his romantic rejection.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v)

The stable-boy playing his pipe, lost in musical ecstasy, then surprised by the blind boy and later by the Pani.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi)

The piper who plays for the boy in the stable each night and teaches him to play the pipe.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii)

The Hohòl piper whose simple pipe music captivates Pètrik, contrasting with the complex piano.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii)

The peasant piper whose simple, nature-infused music captivates the blind boy and teaches the mother a deeper understanding of musical poetry.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/x)

Joachim is criticized by Maxim for his whistling but defends his pipe. He then sings a historical folk song that deeply moves both Maxim and the blind boy.

### [III: The First Friendship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii-the-first-friendship)

Joachim rides alongside Petrùsya during his horseback lessons and entertains the village children with tales and proverbs, though the blind boy rarely laughs.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i)

Rides alongside the blind boy, directing him at turnings during horseback riding.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii)

His pipe music deeply influences Petrùsya; he also gathers village children to tell tales and proverbs.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as the one who taught Petrùsya to play the pipe.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v)

His steps are heard by Petrùsya; he calls out 'Panitch!' from the rising ground.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as having presented the tame stork to the Panitch (Petrùsya).

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i)

Still a bachelor and grown gray as groom, he now prefers to listen to the Panitch play rather than play his own pipe.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v)

Accompanies Peter, leaning on his arm as they walk through the town.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters/joachim
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/characters