Maxim Yatzènko

The Blind Musician

A figure who interacts with Petrùsya, providing guidance and support.

III

Uncle Maxim, a crippled former Garibaldian warrior who now lives with the family and begins to reflect on the blind child's fate.

IV

Uncle Maxim, a crippled soldier, who insists that the boy must be allowed to develop his other faculties through necessity and effort, rather than being coddled.

VI

Uncle Maxim, who accompanies the mother and boy to the meadow, leaning on his crutch.

VIII

Maxim, who suspects the boy's alarm is due to overwhelming impressions and decides to reintroduce them gradually.

IX

Uncle Maxim who intervenes when the boy becomes distressed, using sound and space-based descriptions to calm him.

II: The Sources of Musical Feeling—The Blind Boy and the Melody

Uncle Maxim, a Little Russian, speaks simply with peasants and encourages Joachim to sing a folk song, showing his respect for the common people.

I

Influences the system of upbringing for the blind boy, insists on physical exercises and horseback riding despite the mother's initial objections.

II

Begins instructing Petrùsya at age nine, using music to teach history and studying methods for teaching the blind.

V

Uncle who teaches Petrùsya; appears in the vestibule and jokes about the girl's visit.

VI

Uncle Maxim, who takes Evelyn as his pupil and is initially viewed with suspicion by Pan Yaskùlski.

IV: Blindness—Vague Questions

Uncle Maxim observes the limits of his educational influence and the mysterious inner development of his nephew.

II

Observes the boy's mental growth and struggles with the realization that his educational plans are influenced by unknown forces.

III

Observes Anna's experiment with Petrùsya and the stork, then argues against encouraging the boy's questions about light and color.

V: Love

Present at the gathering; old Stavruchènko whispers to him about their youth.

I

Has grown more gray and deems it necessary for the youth's interior nature to gain strength before facing life's assaults; he decides to break into the sheltered circle.

II

Invites Stavruchènko and his party to visit; his name is associated with romantic tales.

IV

Maxim deliberately invites the young men and makes the first breach in Peter's sheltered world, resisting the entreaties of the women.

V

Maxim is heard in an agitated conversation with Anna, expressing concern about Evelyn's involvement with his son.

VII

Converses with an old comrade but watches the door impatiently, then grows abstracted when Evelyn arrives.

VIII

Addressed as Maxim, he sits beside Stavruchènko and receives whispered comments about Peter's performance.

V

Leads Peter through the crowded town on crutches, coldly instructing him to give money to blind beggars.

VI

Knows the real cause of Peter's illness and enters at the moment of Peter's gratitude.

Epilogue

The lame old gentleman and relative of the blind musician, who manages the concert proceeds for charity and witnesses the performance.