Short Fiction · Character

Uncle Maxim

A one-legged Garibaldian firebrand who traded battlefields for his sister's quiet estate, where his quarrelsome temper and restless will reshape a blind boy's fate.

major

Also known as Maxim, VII Uncle Maxim, X Uncle Maxim, And Maxim

First appearance: short fiction

As a major figure in Short Fiction, Uncle Maxim is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The mother's brother, a former Garibaldian fighter who lost a foot and uses crutches; he lives with the family and observes the boy's development.

In the storyThe Blind Infant—The FamilyOpen this moment free

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Ten years before the story, Maxim was the scandal of the Volynian gentry — dueling, defying the Pans, and riding with Garibaldi until Austrian sabres left him a crutch, a cane, and a reputation for heresy. Now he lives in his sister's house, his old excitability banked but not extinguished, and it is he who refuses to let his blind nephew be raised as an invalid. His stubborn, combative love is the engine that drives the boy outward into the world of sound, struggle, and feeling.

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Character Web

35 connections

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Relationship types

Family
Friendship
Other

Character groups

Protagonist
Mysterious and noble figures
Village community figures
Old Cossacks and youth

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where the narrator’s…

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Relationships

Peter
family · positive
Peter is the nephew of Uncle Maxim, with a familial bond of care and guidance. How this plays out →
Joachim
friendship · positive
Anna
family · positive
Peter
family · positive
Peter is the nephew of Uncle Maxim, with a familial bond of care and guidance. How this plays out →
Joachim
friendship · positive
Peter
family · positive
Peter is the nephew of Uncle Maxim, with a familial bond of care and guidance. How this plays out →
Anna
family · positive

Peter
Peter is the nephew of Uncle Maxim, with a familial bond of care and guidance.
Joachim
Joachim and Uncle Maxim are old friends or allies, possibly from military or revolutionary past.
Anna
Anna is likely a relative (perhaps sister or sister-in-law) of Uncle Maxim, with a caring familial tie.
Peter
Peter is the nephew of Uncle Maxim, with a familial bond of care and guidance.
Joachim
Joachim and Uncle Maxim are old friends or allies, possibly from military or revolutionary past.
Peter
Peter is the nephew of Uncle Maxim, with a familial bond of care and guidance.
Anna
Anna is likely a relative (perhaps sister or sister-in-law) of Uncle Maxim, with a caring familial tie.

Relationship notes

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See Uncle Maxim in short fiction

In the story

Uncle Maxim appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Blind Infant—The Family
The mother's brother, a former Garibaldian fighter who lost a foot and uses crutches; he lives with the family and observes the boy's development.
V
Carefully scans the boy's face but cannot explain his strange alarm.
VII
Deeply disturbed by the occurrence, he studies physiological and educational works, devoting himself to understanding the child's soul and developing his latent capabilities.
II: The Sources of Musical Feeling—The Blind Boy and the Melody
Observes the boy's musical passion with mixed feelings, hoping for more than mere fashionable music and reflecting on the power of folk songs.
III
Sitting in the garden during the calm summer evening.
VII
Observes Pètrik's reaction and raps his crutch on the floor in recognition of the boy's emotional state.
III: The First Friendship
Maxim's system of education emphasizes physical and moral development, including horseback riding and music. He recognizes Petrùsya's need for peer interaction and invites village boys, but they are intimidated.
V
Tries to exclude outward impressions from his nephew but cannot control the boy's inner cravings.
VI
Mentioned by Evelyn as the possible contriver of a plan that upset her, though she later defends him.
VI: The Crisis—An Attempt at Synthesis
Peter's uncle, who attempts to explain the analogy between sound and color to help Peter understand the world.
III
Mentioned by Peter as someone he wishes he could see.
VII: Intuition
Present at the birth; his crutch tapping is perceived by Peter during his vision.
II
The tutor who devoted his life to Peter; Peter senses his 'keen glance' and 'energetic voice' in the vision.
The Last Ray
Mentioned in the narrator's thoughts, representing wisdom and the weight of past experiences.

Chapter companion notes

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See Uncle Maxim in short fiction

See Uncle Maxim in The Blind Infant—The Family