# Kharko — Short Fiction character guide

> Kharko in Short Fiction by Vladimir Korolenko.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the talkative Kharko

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

## Snapshot

A proud, talkative Cossack who sits on the hill smoking his pipe and reads the miller's schemes before the miller has finished thinking them.

## Who they are

Kharko lingers at the edge of the tavern and the miller's rise, a proud fellow who nonetheless jumps up when the miller passes and answers with careful, flattering deference. He is the village's knowing chorus, the man who remembers what day of the week the Day of Atonement fell on and who can measure the miller's prosperity against the tears it cost. His talkative, watchful presence keeps the story's moral ledger open, reminding the reader that every roubles put out to pasture has a human price.

## In the story

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

The talkative servant of Yankel the Jew, a former soldier who takes pride in his knowledge and enjoys contradicting the miller.

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

Formerly Yankel's servant, now waits for the new innkeeper and eventually serves the miller.

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

The talkative soldier who devises a manipulative plan for the miller to marry Motria while keeping Galya as a lover.

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

The talkative Kharko leans against the tavern doorpost, engages the miller in conversation about the day of the week, and later whistles after him, provoking the miller's irritation.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix)

The miller's servant, seen approaching the milldam at the end of the chapter.

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

The talkative soldier who outwits the devil with clever riddles and refuses to be tricked.

## Links

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