Characteristics of Zhilin from the story "Caucasian Captive" by L. Tolstoy

Among the best of his works Leo Tolstoy attributed the story "The Prisoner of the Caucasus", written in 1872 for the Azbuka. His content was inspired by memories of a real case from the life of the writer himself. During the service in the Caucasus, he almost fell into captivity. Leo Nikolayevich and the Chechen who was traveling alongside him miraculously managed to escape from the mountaineers who pursued them.

A special attraction is given to the work of the image of Zhilin - a bold and resolute Russian officer, who managed and in captivity to resist the vicissitudes of fate.

Location and main characters

"The Caucasian captive" is a story about the times of the war in the Caucasus. Zhilin receives a letter from his mother, in which she asks her son to come home for at least a short time. He is given leave, and the officer with the wagon - alone it was dangerous to drive - goes on the road. Time drags on slowly, therefore, along with another military, Kostylin, the hero decides to continue to get on his own. However, when the prudent Zhilin climbs up to look around the terrain, the mountaineers notice it. Kostylin with a gun throws his companion, and the main character remains alone. In the first minute he decides to fight to the last, as befits a Russian officer. He throws himself at the Tatar, but the forces are not equal. The wounded Zhilin is in captivity. Soon they bring Kostylina there.

In the village

The Tatar, who got Russian officers, decided to get a ransom for them. But Zhilin knew that there was nowhere to find a mother for money, because he wrote on the envelope the wrong address, and began to think how to get out of captivity himself. Acquainted with his host daughter, the prisoner began to make clay dolls for her. In gratitude Dean secretly brought cakes and milk. I liked everyone who knows how to Zhilin and the Tatars: one fixed the clock, another - a gun. Characteristics of Zhilin from the story "Caucasian captive" makes it clear that he was a hardworking man, accustomed in everything to rely only on himself.

Unlike Kostylin, just waiting for him to pay a ransom for him, the main character is active. He constantly thinks about the escape plan. During his life in captivity he finds a common language with the mountaineers, conquers the love of the girl. During the walks he studies the terrain and calculates where the Russian fortress is. He does in the shed-there they held prisoners -a tunnel. I even fed the owner's dog. Provided all the surprises, Zhilin began to wait for the right moment.

First Escape

Despite the betrayal of Kostylin, the hero decides to take him with him. Successfully getting out of the village, the officers in the pitch darkness are trying to find a way. And here Zhilin behaves courageously. He, short and slender, with his legs cut, dragged the exhausted, heavy Kostylina for a long time. And although in this way not many people could pass through the night, Zhilin did not abandon his comrade.

The mountaineers who went to the chase grabbed both, but now they threw them into the pit. The hero is trying to make a dig, and the Tatars immediately noticed: there was nowhere to go. So the characteristic of Zhilin from the story "The Caucasian captive" shows his vitality and willingness in any situation to fight to the end.

Release

Yet the prisoner managed to escape. Dean helped. When there were almost no men left in the village, she dropped a long pole into the pit, along which Zhilin got to the ground. Kostylin did not risk this time - his month later, exhausted and sick, they bought from the Tatars native.

With a shoe on his legs, overcoming pain and fatigue, the officer managed to get to his own for the night. Already in front of the fortress, the mountaineers noticed him, but the Cossacks arrived in time to help - by the way, this is how Tolstoy himself managed to escape from captivity. Thus, the best human qualities, such as stability, courage, strength of spirit, willingness to fight in any situation, natural kindness, skill, helped the protagonist not only to survive, but also to find a way to liberation. This is the characteristic of Zhilin from the story "The Prisoner of the Caucasus."

The main character: the assessment of the author and readers

Tolstoy sympathizes with the Russian officer. This is evidenced by the name of the hero: Zhilin - having a strong "vein", i.e. Hardy, strong. And the name of the work: it uses the singular instead of the plural. Consequently, Kostylin, apathetic and relying only on relatives, is not taken into account. And the style of the story itself: in the narrative of the Russian officer, it seems to be all simple, but behind this simplicity lies the true heroism and stamina characteristic of a Russian person.

Characteristics of Zilin from the story "The Caucasian Captive" can be supplemented with the statement of V. Shklovsky. He noted that the main character is a good person. And the reader, in order to understand this, it is enough to know about him what is in the work.

Recognizing the high value of the story of L. Tolstoy, S. Marshak put it on a par with the best works that world literature has. "The Caucasian captive", in his opinion, is the most "perfect example of a small story for children". And the great educational significance of the story is undoubtedly connected with the image of the protagonist.