The Duel · Character
Colonel Rafalski
Nicknamed 'Colonel Brehm,' this eccentric recluse neglects his duties and his uniform to lavish all his tenderness on a private menagerie of beasts and birds.
supporting
Also known as Rafalski, Lieutenant-Colonel Rafalski
First appearance: i
As a supporting figure in The Duel, Colonel Rafalski is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Eccentric commander of the 4th Battalion, known as 'Colonel Brehm,' keeps a menagerie; Romashov visits him to borrow money.
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Colonel Rafalski has withdrawn from regimental society into a world of animals, spending every spare rouble on his menagerie and wearing uniforms that date from another era. The officers' wives mock his dirt and his…
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The fuller portrait of Colonel Rafalski sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Colonel Rafalski in iCharacter Web
7 connectionsA slice of how Colonel Rafalski sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Social
- Other
Character groups
- Senior regimental figures
- Protagonist
- Central officer conflicts
+2 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this scene, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Romashov, facing his imminent duel with Nikolä…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Sublieutenant Romashov
social · positive
Rafalski is an eccentric, older colonel who engages Romashov in eccentric conversations… How this plays out →
- Sublieutenant Romashov
social · positive
Rafalski is an eccentric, older colonel who engages Romashov in eccentric conversations… How this plays out →
- Sublieutenant Romashov
social · positive
Rafalski is an eccentric, older colonel who engages Romashov in eccentric conversations… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Colonel Rafalski in iIn the story
Colonel Rafalski appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Colonel Rafalski unlock in the free preview.
See Colonel Rafalski in i