Character history
Cultural and artistic figures react sharply to social and political changes in their home countries. The work of Russian writers of the 19th century illuminated the problem that arose in the Caucasus. The war that lasted in this region from 1817 to 1864 did not allow the country to heal from many painful issues. The region attracted poets and writers with its picturesqueness and exoticism, and the local population, with its mentality and morals, seemed rebellious and freedom-loving. Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy wrote the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus”, inspired by the events that took place in the Caucasus.
The main characters of “Prisoner of the Caucasus”, characteristics of the characters in Tolstoy’s story (grade 5)
The dangerous events that happened to Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy formed the basis for writing the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus.” During his stay in the Caucasus, the great writer fell into a trap among the mountaineers. There he ended up with his friend, but they managed to avoid a sad fate. They returned home safe and sound. This incident directly affected this work. In "Prisoner of the Caucasus" the plot develops around two officers. Each of them is the complete opposite of the other. The writer compares the characters of the characters, making it clear that if you don’t sit with your hands folded, everything will work out.
History of creation
Writer Leo Tolstoy
This work of Tolstoy stands on a par with the novels “Anna Karenina” and “War and Peace”, which received worldwide recognition. In the 1870s, the writer renounced his past works and began to work on the development of neo-Christian teachings. He lived by the rules he created for himself and created in accordance with his changed worldview. Simplicity in life and creativity became his main focus.
Tolstoy wrote two books: “The ABC” and “The New ABC”. The main difference from earlier works was the clarity of the language and accessibility to everyone who picked up the publications. This is how the writer conveyed his thoughts to the common people. The story “Prisoner of the Caucasus” was included in the first book. The work is based on the personal impressions of Tolstoy, who was almost captured by the Caucasian highlanders in 1853.
The story was published by Zarya magazine in 1872. The author himself considered this work a work of art on a global scale, accessible to people of all backgrounds.
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"Prisoner of the Caucasus"
Zhilin
Russian officer Zhilin, the main character of the work, serves in the troops involved in annexing the Caucasus to the Russian Empire. He comes from a simple family who achieves everything in life on his own. This is how the character attracts the sympathy of readers. Having been captured by the mountaineers, the man demonstrates his ingenuity and fortitude. He plans to escape. The strength of character of the captive evokes respect even among the Tatars who captured him.
Zhilin turns out to be a jack of all trades. He makes a doll for Dina and fixes broken things. At the same time, he behaves boldly and does not humiliate himself. His skills helped the hero hold out in captivity: Dina brought him food, and the Tatars did not punish him. Having received permission to write a letter asking for ransom, Zhilin immediately declares that he will not ask for three thousand coins and is ready to offer only five hundred.
Tatars watch Zhilin's work
The hero is imprisoned in the company of another Russian soldier, Kostylin. The latter values his life much more highly and is ready to ask his relatives for five thousand coins just to get out. He does nothing to get out of captivity, only complains about fate. While Zhilin is digging a tunnel to escape, Kostylin cries while waiting for the ransom.
The prisoners' escape failed because of Kostylin. The Tatars caught the heroes when freedom was very close. The officers had to return to captivity and again think over an escape plan. Instead of a barn, they were placed in a deep ditch. Zhilin was helped to escape by young Dina, who remembered her friend’s kindness. The hero was saved by the Cossacks, and he continued his service. Kostylin was saved thanks to the ransom.
Option 2
One of the main characters of the work is military officer Ivan Zhilin, who participates in hostilities in the Caucasus.
The writer presents Zhilin as a young man of noble origin from an impoverished noble family, who is the only son of a beloved elderly mother.
During a trip home on another vacation, Zhilin, together with his colleague Kostylin, are captured by the harsh Tatars, who plan to receive a significant ransom for Russian officers.
While in captivity, Zhilin begins to think through options for escape, but does not become limp, unlike Kostylin, who is constantly aching and suffering, and tries to do useful work: he makes toys for little Tatar children, repairs broken weapons and other items, helps in the treatment of a noble Tatar, because is a versatile and hardworking person.
To the Tatars’ offer to receive a large sum of money for his release, Zhilin honestly and openly replies that his mother is not able to pay such a huge ransom, so there is no point in contacting her.
The Tatars, despite their enmity with the Russians, become attached to Ivan, appreciating and respecting his courage, kindness, and sincerity, and the little teenage girl Dina begins to treat Zhilin as a true friend, feeling sorry for him and feeding him.
Finally, Ivan decides to escape, which ends unsuccessfully due to the fat and clumsy Kostylin, who detains the prisoners. The Tatars catch up with the fleeing people and place them in a well, shackling them in wooden shackles.
With wounded, worn-out legs, exhausted by captivity, but not broken in spirit, Zhilin makes a new attempt to escape, having carefully prepared and using the help of Dina, who lowered a long stake into the hole for the prisoner.
Having set out in pursuit of the desperate Zhilin, the Tatars fail, as Ivan manages to get to the Cossack fortress, where he remains to serve until the end of the war. Kostylin is freed from captivity thanks to a large ransom provided by his relatives.
Narrating one of the events of the Russian-Caucasian war, the writer reveals the true patriotic qualities of real Russian officers, characterized by the will to freedom and inevitable victory, the ability to steadfastly endure the hardships and hardships of wartime, not forgetting about the manifestation of human attitude towards others, including to the enemy.
Comparative characteristics of Zhilin and Kostylin
Illustration for Tolstoy’s work “Prisoner of the Caucasus”
The main idea of Tolstoy’s work is that you should not lose heart and give up when faced with difficulties. Overcoming difficulties requires self-confidence and great desire. This idea can be translated to any situation.
Thinking about which of the heroes had a better chance of being saved, it is logical to assume that Kostylin, who was awaiting ransom, would have been more likely to be free. But Zhilin’s courage and willpower proved the opposite. He does not ask for pity, does not beg for mercy, but acts based on the circumstances. Closeness to the people, honor and decency, nobility and simplicity help Zhilin to stay alive in difficult circumstances.
Both prisoners sat in the barn, chained in stocks, but Zhilin fell in love with the local population. Skilled and dexterous, he quickly found a common language with Abdul-Murat’s daughter. The man made toys for Dina. On walks, he thought of possible escape plans, and at night he dug a tunnel. Lamb and flatbreads brought by the grateful Dina helped him and Kostylin stay alive.
Kostylin writes a letter home
Zhilin and Kostylin are contrasted with each other throughout the entire narrative. Men are in the same position, fighting for the unification of the Caucasus and Russia. They were captured on the way home, and Zhilin was going to see his mother, who was on her deathbed. The Tatars noticed the Russians and captured them. The brave Zhilin constantly found himself in disastrous situations because of the cowardly and narrow-minded Kostylin. The savvy hero found an approach to the Muslims, did not pay the ransom and won over the eastern people. Kostylin feared for his life and did everything he was told.
The biographies of the captives are different, so the characteristics of their images demonstrate the contrast of qualities, talents and skills. Zhilin was persistent, firmly believed in success, spared no effort to achieve what he wanted, and made efforts in any business he took on. Kostylin was idle waiting for help, taking a passive position, knowing that he would be helped out of compassion.
Still from the film “Prisoner of the Caucasus” (1975)
Kostylin was not known for his endurance. His vices made themselves known during his first escape. He was a burden for Zhilin. The second escape became an impossible test for him, and Kostylin preferred to wait for the final with folded arms.
It was not without reason that Tolstoy called the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus”, meaning one hero, although it was about two characters. For the author and readers, the real hero of the story turned out to be one person. Passive Kostylin was a pathetic character who got in the way of Zhilin, who independently created his own destiny. The names of the characters accurately describe their characters and appearance. Zhilin and Kostylin are representatives of completely different personality types, so their destinies are different and their life paths diverge.
Essay about Zilina
The main character of the story is a Russian officer from the impoverished nobles, with a simple name - Ivan.
The action takes place during the Caucasian War. Ivan Zhilin, his mother’s only son, having received a letter from her, was getting ready to go home on vacation to see the old woman. During the journey, Ivan and his companion Kostylin are captured by the Tatars for ransom. Kostylin unconditionally sends a letter to his relatives asking them to bring money for him. Zhilin, knowing that his mother does not have savings for the ransom, writes a deliberately incorrect address. Bargaining for the ransom amount with the Tatars, although he knows that no one will give even a ruble for him, the hero shows his character and courage in the face of death.
The two prisoners behave differently. Kostylin, who has already shown himself to be a traitor along the way, loses heart, constantly whines and complains. Zhilin, on the contrary, in order to drive away sad thoughts, tries to occupy himself with any possible activity. He repairs watches and weapons for his tormentors. He makes friends with the girl Dina and gives her clay dolls.
Because of his persistent character and skillful hands, the Tatars began to respect Zhilin, but the thirst for profit overpowers their human qualities. And only little Dina takes pity on the captive and slowly feeds him with cakes and milk. Even the angry and always hungry yard dog fell in love with Ivan.
Zhilin is constantly thinking through various options for release from captivity. The first escape ended in failure. The fat, clumsy Kostylin, whom Zhilin took with him, whined and prevented him from going faster. Ivan had to drag him on himself. The Tatars caught up with the fugitives and put them in a pit, shackling their feet in wooden stocks.
An attempt to make a tunnel also failed - there was nowhere to put the clay unnoticed.
And then, on the third attempt, Dina helps the prisoner get out of the hole by lowering a long pole towards him. In one night, having gathered all his strength, with his wounded legs in stocks, Zhilin overcomes a long distance and reaches the Cossack fortress. Already on the approach to the fortress, the Tatars almost caught up with him, rushing after him in pursuit, but the Cossacks managed to recapture the hero.
The author gave the surname “Zhilin” to his hero as a characteristic - strong, physically and mentally, hardy.
Other works: ← Zhilin and Kostylin different destinies ↑ Tolstoy L. N. Zhilin and Dina →
Film adaptations
The story by Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was first filmed in 1975 by director Georgiy Kalatozashvili. Actor Yuri Nazarov played the role of Zhilin in the film.
Yuri Nazarov and Sergei Bodrov Jr. as Zhilin
The second film adaptation was presented in 1996. It is based on the leitmotifs of the work, but the action is transferred to modern realities. Sergei Bodrov Sr. described what happened during the Chechen War, reinforcing Tolstoy’s idea that his idea is relevant regardless of the situation and the proposed circumstances. The role of Zhilin was played by Sergei Bodrov Jr.
Story
The plot of the story is partly based on a real event that happened to Tolstoy during his service in the Caucasus in the 1850s. On June 23, 1853, he wrote in his diary: “I almost got captured, but in this case I behaved well, although too sensitive.”[2] According to the memoirs of S. A. Bers, the writer’s brother-in-law[3],
| The peaceful Chechen Sado, with whom L. N. was traveling, was his great friend. And not long before they exchanged horses. Sado bought a young horse. Having tested it, he gave it to his friend L. N-chu, and he himself moved to his pacer, who, as you know, does not know how to gallop. It was in this form that the Chechens overtook them. L.N-ch, having the opportunity to gallop away on his friend’s frisky horse, did not leave him. Sado, like all mountaineers, never parted with his gun, but, unfortunately, it was not loaded. Nevertheless, he aimed it at his pursuers and, threatening, shouted at them. Judging by the further actions of the pursuers, they intended to capture both, especially Sado, for revenge, and therefore did not shoot. This circumstance saved them. They managed to approach Grozny, where a sharp-eyed sentry noticed the pursuit from afar and raised the alarm. The Cossacks who came to meet them forced the Chechens to stop the pursuit. |
Tolstoy's daughter Alexandra talks about this incident as follows[4]:
| Tolstoy and his friend Sado accompanied the convoy to the Grozny fortress. The convoy walked slowly, stopped, Tolstoy was bored. He and four other horsemen accompanying the convoy decided to overtake it and ride forward. The road went through a gorge; the mountaineers could attack at any moment from above, from the mountain, or unexpectedly from behind cliffs and rock ledges. Three drove along the bottom of the gorge, and two - Tolstoy and Sado - along the top of the ridge. Before they had time to reach the ridge of the mountain, they saw Chechens rushing towards them. Tolstoy shouted to his comrades about the danger, and he, together with Sado, rushed forward to the fortress with all his might. Fortunately, the Chechens did not shoot; they wanted to capture Sado alive. The horses were playful and managed to gallop away. The young officer was injured; the horse killed under him crushed him and he could not free himself from under it. The Chechens galloping past hacked him half to death with sabers, and when the Russians picked him up, it was already too late, he died in terrible agony. |
While actively compiling The ABC, Tolstoy wrote a story about a Caucasian prisoner. Sending the story to N. N. Strakhov in March 1872, Tolstoy noted[5]:
| All my time and energy are occupied with the ABC. For “Zarya” I wrote a completely new article in “Azbuka” - “Prisoner of the Caucasus” and will send it no later than in a week... Please write what you think about this article. This is an example of the techniques and language that I use to write and will write for the big ones. |
The story “Prisoner of the Caucasus” was published in the magazine “Zarya” (1872, No. 2). It was included in the “Fourth Russian Reading Book,” published on November 1, 1872[6].
Tolstoy himself highly appreciated his story and mentioned it in his treatise “What is Art?” in the following context[7]:
| ...I consider my works of art to be in the realm of bad art, with the exception of the story “God Sees the Truth,” which wants to belong to the first kind, and “The Prisoner of the Caucasus,” which belongs to the second. |
At the same time, he defines the “second kind” of good art there as “art that conveys the simplest everyday feelings, such as are accessible to all people around the world—world art.”
Commenting on this treatise, the philosopher Lev Shestov notes that “...he actually perfectly understands that his “Caucasian Prisoner” or “God knows the truth, but will not soon tell” (only these two stories of all that he has written, belongs to he is for good art) - will not have for readers the meaning that not only his great novels have - but even “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” [8].
Characteristics of Zhilin from the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus”
Option 1
Zhilin is the main character of the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus.”
He is used to achieving everything himself. He is quite a charming character and immediately evokes sympathy. He is brave, in captivity he behaved boldly and confidently. Even the yard dog loved Zhilin because he fed her, this once again proves that Zhilin is a positive character. Throughout the entire story, he is contrasted with Kostylin - the complete opposite of Zhilin. Thus, the author emphasizes the positive qualities of Zhilin. Over time, even the harsh Tatars warmed to him. Zhilin did not abandon Kostylin even during the chase, after which they were caught. Before this, he gained the trust of Dina, who helped him escape. I believe that Zhilin is a shining example of a person with a truly broad Russian soul.
Option 2
The whole story describes to us those events when Tolstoy miraculously managed to escape pursuit, but two of his comrades were captured. Something had to be done. These were two Russian officers - Zhilin and Kostylin. What immediately catches your eye is that their names are very consonant, but completely different in meaning.
The character of both heroes is also very different. When Zhilin was on his way to his mother, he picked up Kostylin along the way. During the trip they were attacked by the Tatars. Zhilin behaved very bravely and began to defend himself, while Kostylin immediately ran to the fortress. But even such cowardice could not save him.
In captivity, the heroes also behave differently. When the Tatars told them about the amount of 5,000 rubles that they had to pay, Kostylin immediately wrote a letter home and waited for the money. Zhilin, on the contrary, agreed only to 500 rubles, and sent the letter to another address, because most of all he did not want his mother to worry. Kostylin was constantly bored while he was waiting for money; he planned an escape to Zhilin, digging a hole at night. While living in captivity, Zhilin often showed himself to be a very decent and kind person. He made a clay doll for the owner’s daughter, and then repaired the owner’s watch. Since then, people constantly came to him and asked for help.
So they lived until Zhilin dug a hole. One night they both got out and ran into the mountains. All the way, Kostylin was a burden to his comrade. HE did not want to take off his worn-out shoes, which made it painful for him to walk, he was fat and could not climb the mountain on his own and constantly groaned and screamed, which once attracted the attention of a Tatar passing nearby. Zhilin did not abandon his comrade, but picked him up and carried him. Of course, he could not escape with such a load. They were captured again and thrown into a pit.
Liberation
The prisoner still managed to escape. Dina helped. When there were almost no men left in the village, she lowered a long pole into the pit, along which Zhilin climbed to the ground. Kostylin did not take risks this time - a month later, exhausted and sick, his relatives bought him from the Tatars.
With stocks on his feet, overcoming pain and fatigue, the officer managed to reach his people overnight. Already in front of the fortress, the mountaineers noticed him, but the Cossacks arrived in time to help - by the way, this is how L. Tolstoy himself managed to escape from captivity. Thus, the best human qualities, such as resilience, courage, fortitude, willingness to fight in any situation, natural kindness, skill, helped the main character not only survive, but also find a path to liberation. This is the characterization of Zhilin from the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus.”
