How did Tatars treat Zhilin? "The Prisoner of the Caucasus": Characteristics of the Heroes

It is unlikely that there will be someone who did not pass in the school the work of Leo Tolstoy's "The Prisoner of the Caucasus." In this narrative we have a type of such a brave Russian officer as Zhilin. Cheerful at first and unrestrained after a series of trials that have come to his share, the hero of the story can not leave even the most malovpitelitelnogo reader indifferent.

After all, the characterization of Zhilin, by and large, is not presented as it usually happens, at the beginning of the work, but is given to us throughout the course of his actions, without giving a single doubt to this indisputably persistent and cheerful person.

Who is Zhilin?

Our hero is a Russian military officer who is in the Caucasus in the troubled events of those times. In one of his official everyday life he receives an alarming letter from his mother, who is living out his last days. In it, she asks her son to come home to see her for the last time. Zhilin leaves his outpost with the first convoy. Otherwise, it was dangerous to leave the place of service, because there were enemies all around - ruthless Tatars who hated the Russian soldiers with all their heart. Ready to break everyone who met them on the road, the Highlanders posed a considerable danger for those who left the garrison alone.

Respect for the protagonist comes from the first pages of the reader, as in them the author emphasizes the affability of Zilin both in relation to officers and to ordinary soldiers. From the very beginning, the hero impresses with the brightness of his personal qualities: purposefulness, high intelligence and cheerful spirit. And this is all combined with his courage and considerable combat experience. Particularly distinguished characteristic of Zilina from the moment when, having joined the train, he gets acquainted with another officer - Kostylin - the complete opposite of our hero.

Captivity

The calculating Zhilin, sensing the wrong, fights off the train and goes to the reconnaissance, where he discovers about thirty enemy riders. Unfortunately, he does not manage to take the necessary measures in time for the defense of the train, and he is attacked. Remaining cut off from the rest, the hero of the story understands the whole gravity of the situation, but, nevertheless, without panic, and even less thinking about the retreat, he directs his horse towards the enemy. Bare checker, Zhilin jumps on one of the highlanders - The one who attracted the most attention. But the bullet that hit his horse does not allow him to overtake his goal. Striking your head against the ground deprives the hero of clarity of mind, and he regains consciousness only when the Tatars, having tied his hands, immerse his body on the mare of his leader. This is how Zhilin is captured.

Redemption

Upon arrival in their village, the Tatars throw Zhilin into the old barn, where they untie his hands. Instead, a shoe is nailed to his leg. To the surprise of the hero (and reader), the mountaineers immediately react to the request of the prisoner to give him water by clicking a little girl with a jug. However, by the evening it becomes clear why such an attitude. After all, in addition to kill a Russian officer, it will be even more beneficial to get a ransom for him. And this greatly affected the way Tatars treated Zhilin. Realizing the value it represents to them, the main character put forward his demands. Namely - good nutrition, indulgent treatment and freedom from pads. True, not everything was accomplished.

Zhilin and Kostylin

What was the surprise of our hero when, at night, Kostylin joined the company, the same officer who accompanied the convoy along with him. Unlike Zhilin, he did not stand out with special courage. And during the attack tried to escape by flight. For this occupation he was caught by the enemy. Particularly worth noting is that at that time Kostylin had in his hands a loaded rifle, which he never bothered to use as intended.

The Caucasian captive Zhilin, while staying in the camp of the enemy, tried to somehow ease his fate and his comrade. In addition, he began to develop an escape plan. An important part of it was observation. The study of the enemy depended on many factors. This was the number of people in the village, and the location of the guard, and the number of sentries in this guard. An important point was also what customs Tatars Zhilin observed. When they celebrated, when they prayed, etc. All this was important for the future event, which the Russian officer planned.

How did Tatars feel about Zhilin at first and how - then? Everything changes in the course of the story. After all, the restless protagonist could not, unlike Kostylin, sit and silently look at one point. If he did not prepare for an escape, he was looking for another occupation. It was not long before the Tatars began to bring him various things for repairs, which he easily brought into service. Also, the hero was practiced as a healer, which did not leave him without respect from the mountaineers.

Caucasian captive Zhilin in the first days of his captivity finds himself a friend - a Tatar girl Dinah, for whom she sculpts a clay doll. And she begins to drag him milk, cheese cakes and much more that was not put to the captive officers.

An important aspect of the way Tatars were treated to Zhilin was the attitude of their leader, Abdul Murat. He began to respect the Russian officer almost from the first days. As if the commander of the mountain detachment tried to intimidate the protagonist, he looked him straight in the eye, thereby expressing indifference to his threats. If, after unsuccessful campaigns, most Tatars offered to kill Russian prisoners, Abdul Murat was the only one who did not allow it to be done. Either he was so greedy for money, or else the impression made by Zhilin on him.

As for Kostylin, he only sighed, looked at the ceiling and waited for a miracle. Namely - liberation.

First Escape

The first escape was unsuccessful for the main characters, as the exhausted Kostylin became a real ballast for Zhilin, and this did not allow them to go far. To everything else, when it was necessary to hide behind the stones from the passing Tatar, he began to scream with pain, which naturally affected the speedy capture of fugitives. It is not worthwhile for a long time to think about how the Tatars treated Zhilin after such an antics. Now time did not go by days, but by hours. It was necessary to act urgently.

Second Escape

This time the protagonist no longer began to take Kostylina with him. Firstly, because he really created a hindrance for liberation, not trying at least to somehow help Zhilin. Secondly, Kostylin was no longer able to walk.

And this significantly influenced the success of the second escape of our hero. Not much time passed, as Zhilin was already heading towards the Cossack detachment, thereby saving himself from captivity and speedy massacre, which was about to be held captive by the Tatars.