# Roch — The Peasants character guide

> Roch in The Peasants by Władysław Reymont.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Roch

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

A wandering holy man whose rosary beads and quiet counsel move the village more surely than any official decree, he carries the peasants' grievances toward the Squire.

## Who they are

Roch drifts through the village as pilgrim and advisor, saying his beads on Boryna's porch while the parish priest and the women weigh his words. He moves between factions with a diplomat's patience, persuading the priest to back the men's plan and agreeing to lead them to the German settlers himself. His mysterious authority and evident sorrow over Yagna's shaming make him the moral hinge on which the village's early confrontations turn.

## Relationships

### [Hanka Boryna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/hanka_boryna)

_friendship_

Hanka finds a kind and loyal friend in Roch, who offers her comfort and advice.

### [Yagna Borynova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/yagna_borynova)

_social_

Roch is a wandering wise man who observes Yagna with a mix of pity and moral judgment.

### [Hanka Boryna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/hanka_boryna)

_friendship_

Hanka finds a kind and loyal friend in Roch, who offers her comfort and advice.

### [Hanka Boryna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/hanka_boryna)

_friendship_

Hanka finds a kind and loyal friend in Roch, who offers her comfort and advice.

### [Yagna Borynova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/yagna_borynova)

_social_

Roch is a wandering wise man who observes Yagna with a mix of pity and moral judgment.

### [Yagna Borynova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/yagna_borynova)

_social_

Roch is a wandering wise man who observes Yagna with a mix of pity and moral judgment.

## In the story

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

Arrives at the feast and tells a story about Jesus and a dog named Burek, which deeply affects the listeners.

### [Chapter IX: All Souls' Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/ix)

Pilgrim and storyteller, reads pious legends and offers comfort to the villagers gathered at Boryna's cabin.

### [Winter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/winter)

Roch is present in the village, offering spiritual guidance and support to the community during the winter season.

### [Chapter VI: The Squire's Visit and Winter's Hardships](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/vi)

Pleads with Boryna to help the poor komorniki by allowing the Squire's tree-felling, but leaves grieved by Boryna's harshness.

### [Chapter X: The Fabulous World of Winter Tales](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/x)

Tells two moral tales to calm the villagers: one about a horse that kills its master and is forgiven, and another about Casimir the Hawk who curses God after losing everything.

### [Spring's Return to Lipka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/i)

Went to make inquiries about the imprisoned men, mentioned by Klembova.

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

Returns with news of Antek's imprisonment, reporting that Antek is well and not in irons.

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

Roch moves through the village helping women with spring chores and reflecting on the hardships caused by the men's imprisonment.

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

Reads and tells stories to the group at Boryna's, offering wisdom and comfort; later stays up waiting for Hanka's return.

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

Sows good words, mediates between Lipka and Rzepki, and tries to pacify the complaining women.

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

Roch is present in the village, listening to Veronka and later encountering Adam Klemba's false report of a murder, which turns out to be the discovery of Yagna and the Voyt.

### [The Stirring Against the Germans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/x)

Assists by convincing the priest and calming the men during the confrontation.

### [The Search for Roch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/x)

The target of the gendarmes' search; hides in the rye, then flees Lipka with Matthew's help.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/roch
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters