# Balaam — The Virginian character guide

> Balaam in The Virginian by Owen Wister.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mrs. Balaam, Mr. Balaam

**First appearance:** 0028-xxvi-balaam-and-pedro

## Snapshot

A fat, hot-tempered horse trader whose Eastern grammar slips when his Western rages rise, and whose cruelty to his animals the Virginian watches in sombre silence.

## Who they are

Balaam is the ranchman who owes Judge Henry horses and keeps putting off their return, greeting the Virginian's reminder with a struck fist and a demand for explanations. He rages about Indians off the reservation, cuts his own bewildered horse across the jaw for shying at water, and grins at Shorty's battered overalls while angling for the boy's good pony. The Virginian can scarcely interfere between another man and his own beast, but he looks on, and he remembers.

## Relationships

### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian)

_rivalry_

Balaam is a cruel and greedy antagonist who clashes with the Virginian over horse treatment and moral values.

### [Molly Stark Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/molly_stark_wood)

_rivalry_

Balaam and Molly are antagonists, as she despises his cruelty to animals and his immoral character.

### [Pedro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/pedro)

_psychological_

Balaam abuses his horse Pedro, treating him with extreme cruelty, reflecting his sadistic nature.

### [Shorty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/shorty)

_psychological_

Balaam manipulates and exploits Shorty's weakness, leading Shorty into trouble and moral compromise.

### [Judge Henry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/judge_henry)

_rivalry_

Balaam and Judge Henry are in conflict over land, livestock, and moral principles, with Henry opposing Balaam's cruelty.

### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian)

_rivalry_

Balaam is a cruel and greedy antagonist who clashes with the Virginian over horse treatment and moral values.

### [Pedro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/pedro)

_psychological_

Balaam abuses his horse Pedro, treating him with extreme cruelty, reflecting his sadistic nature.

### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian)

_rivalry_

Balaam is a cruel and greedy antagonist who clashes with the Virginian over horse treatment and moral values.

### [Shorty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/shorty)

_psychological_

Balaam manipulates and exploits Shorty's weakness, leading Shorty into trouble and moral compromise.

### [Molly Stark Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/molly_stark_wood)

_rivalry_

Balaam and Molly are antagonists, as she despises his cruelty to animals and his immoral character.

### [Molly Stark Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/molly_stark_wood)

_rivalry_

Balaam and Molly are antagonists, as she despises his cruelty to animals and his immoral character.

### [Judge Henry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/judge_henry)

_rivalry_

Balaam and Judge Henry are in conflict over land, livestock, and moral principles, with Henry opposing Balaam's cruelty.

## In the story

### [VI: Em'ly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/vi-em-ly)

Visits the ranch and addresses the narrator as 'the tenderfoot'; described as a maltreater of horses.

### [Progress of the Lost Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxv-progress-of-the-lost-dog)

Angry about the delayed letter, mistreats his horse, and pressures Shorty to sell Pedro.

### [Balaam and Pedro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxvi-balaam-and-pedro)

Balaam is irritable and cruel, beating Pedro and expressing a cynical view of horses. He decides to travel with the Virginian to return Judge Henry's horses.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters