Comparative characteristics of Zhilin and Kostylina (Tolstoy, "The Prisoner of the Caucasus")

"Caucasian captive" - a story that is sometimes called a story. It was written by Leo Tolstoy. The work tells us about the Russian officer, who was in captivity with the mountaineers. The story was first published in the journal Zarya in 1872. He is one of the most popular works of the great Russian writer who has survived many reprints. The title of the story is a reference to Pushkin's poem of the same name. In this article we will make the comparative characteristics of Zhilin and Kostylin. These are the two main characters, the opposition of the personalities of which forms the basis of the work. Description of Zhilin and Kostylina look below.

Story of history

The narrative is based in part on a real event that occurred during the service of Tolstoy in the Caucasus (50s of the XIX century). He wrote in his diary in June 1853 that he almost fell into captivity, but behaved well in this case, although And excessively sensitive. Leo Nikolayevich, along with his friend once miraculously left the chase. The lieutenant Tolstoy also had to rescue his comrades from captivity.

Letters of redemption, drawn up by two officers

The story takes place during the Caucasian War. Zhilin, an officer, serves in the navy. His mother sends him a letter with a request to visit her, and he leaves with a train from the fortress. On the way, he overtakes him along with Kostylin and stumbles upon the mounted "Tatars" (that is, the mountaineers-Muslims).

Those shoot the horse, and the officer himself is taken prisoner (his friend is running). Zhilin is taken to a mountain village, after which they sell Abdul-Murat. "How did Zhilin and Kostylin meet after this?" - you ask. It turned out that Abdul-Murat was already in captivity by the time Kostylin, a colleague of Zhilin, who was also caught by the Tatars. Abdul-Murat makes writing Russian officers letters home to get ransom for them. Zhilin points to the wrong address on the envelope, realizing that in any case the mother will not be able to collect the necessary amount.

Zhilin and Kostylin in captivity

Kostylin and Zhilin live in a shed, they are put on their feet in the afternoon pads. Zhilin fell in love with local children, primarily Dinah, 13-year-old daughter Abdul-Murat, who made dolls. During walks in the neighborhood and aul, this officer estimates how it is possible to escape to the Russian fortress. At night he makes a dig in the shed. Dina brings him sometimes pieces of mutton or flat cakes.

Escape of two officers

When Zhilin finds out that the inhabitants of this aul are alarmed by the death of a fellow villager who died in a battle with the Russians, he finally decides to escape. Together with Kostylin, the officer climbs into the tunnel during the night. They want to get to the forest, and then - to the fortress. But because the fat Kostylin was clumsy, they do not have time to implement the plan, the Tatars notice the young people and are brought back. They are now being put in a pit and are no longer taking off their shoes for the night. Dina sometimes continues to wear the officer's food.

Second escape of Zhilin

Realizing that their enslavers are afraid that the Russians can soon come, and therefore can kill their captives, Zhilin, with the onset of the night, once asked Dina to get a long stick. With his help, he gets out of the hole. Kostylin, who is dying and aching, remains inside. He tries, including with the help of a girl, to knock off the padlock, but he does not succeed. At dawn, after making his way through the forest, Zhilin goes to the Russian troops. Kostylina subsequently, with the health undermined to the extreme, are bought from bondage by comrades.

Characteristics of the main characters ("Caucasian captive", Tolstoy)

Zhilin and Kostylin are Russian officers. They are both involved in the war for the annexation of the Caucasus to Russia. Zhilin receives a letter from his mother, in which she asks her son to visit her before her death to say goodbye. He, without thinking twice, sets out on his journey. But it was dangerous to go alone, because at any time the Tatars could have seized and killed him. We drove by the group, and therefore very slowly. Then Zhilin and Kostylin decide to go forward alone. Zhilin was prudent and cautious. Convinced that Kostylin's gun was loaded, and he had a checker in the scabbard, Zhilin decided to see if the Tatars were visible, climbing the mountain. Climbing higher, he noticed his enemies. Tatars were not far away, and so they saw Zhilin.

This brave officer thought that if he could run to the gun (which was at Kostylin's), then the officers would be rescued. He shouted to his friend. But the cowardly Kostylin ran away, frightened for his own skin. He committed a mean act. In the way Zhilin and Kostylin met, one can see the mockery of fate over the latter. After all, both of them were captured, and here they met again. The chief of the mountaineers-Muslims said that it is necessary to pay a ransom of 5000 rubles, and then they will be released. Kostylin immediately wrote a letter home asking him to get the money. And Zhilin told the mountaineers that if they killed him, they would not get anything at all, and told them to wait. He sent his letter intentionally to another address, since the officer felt sorry for his mother, who was seriously ill, and there was no money in the family. In addition to his mother, Zilin had no other relatives.

The comparative characteristics of Zhilin and Kostylin can be supplemented by pointing out how these heroes spent their time in captivity. Zhilin decided that he could and should run away. He digs a tunnel during the night, and in the daytime did for Dina dolls, which in return brought food.

But he slept all day, and slept at night. And now the time has come when preparations for the escape have been completed. The officers ran together. They severely wiped the stones of their feet, and weakened Kostylin Zhilin had to carry on himself. Because of this, they were seized. The officers were put in a pit this time, but Dina took out a stick and helped her friend escape. Kostylin was scared to flee again and stayed with the mountaineers. Zhilin managed to get to his. Only a month later Kostylina was redeemed.

Apparently, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy shows in his story "The Prisoner of the Caucasus" the courage and courage of Zhilin and the weakness, cowardice and laziness of his comrade. Comparative characteristics of Zhilin and Kostylina are opposite, and these images are built on contrast. To better convey his thoughts, the author uses a number of techniques. Read more about them.

Analysis of the title of the story "The Prisoner of the Caucasus"

It is interesting to analyze the very title of the story - "The Prisoner of the Caucasus". Zhilin and Kostylin are two heroes, but the name is given in the singular. Tolstoy, perhaps, wanted to show this, that the true hero can only be the person who does not give up before the difficulties that have arisen, but actively acts. Passive people become a burden to others in life, not striving for anything and not developing. The author shows, therefore, that not everything in our lives directly depends on the circumstances, and each person is the creator of his own destiny.

Names of main characters

Pay attention also to the names of the heroes, which are taken by the author not accidentally, which should also be noted, compiling the comparative characteristics of Zhilin and Kostylin. Starting to read this work, we still do not know the characters of the main actors, but only learn their surnames. But immediately we have the feeling that Lev Nikolaevich is more sympathetic to Zhilin than to Kostylin. In the latter, we think, the character is "limping," and Zhilin is a strong man, "wiry," with a strong character. Kostylin also needs the help of outsiders, he is indecisive, dependent. Further events confirm our conjectures. The meaning of these rhyming surnames is completely different. So, Zhilin is described as a man of small stature, agile and sturdy. On the contrary, Kostylin is heavy, heavy to rise, passive. Throughout the work, he only does what prevents a friend from realizing what he has planned.

Conclusion

Thus, these two characters are opposite, as described by Zhilin and Kostylin by the author. The main difference between these two officers is that one is a hard worker, active, believing that one can find a way out of any situation, and the second is a coward, a lazy, a lout. Zhilin was able to settle down in a hostile environment, which helped this officer get out of captivity. Such a case of another person would have knocked out of the rut, but this officer is not like that. He did not leave home after the end of the history, but remained to serve in the Caucasus. But Kostylin, barely alive, was released from captivity for ransom. Tolstoy did not say what happened to him further. Probably, he did not consider it necessary even to mention the further fate of such a worthless person in his work "The Prisoner of the Caucasus." Zhilin and Kostylin are different people, and therefore their fates differ, despite the same life circumstances. It was this thought that Leo Tolstoy wanted to convey to us.

Samuel Marshak noted that the work "The Prisoner of the Caucasus" (Tolstoy) is the crown of all books for reading and said that in the whole world literature one can not find a more perfect example of a story, a small story for children's reading. Description of Zhilin and Kostylina, a comparative analysis of their characters helps to educate the younger generation, the development of the personality, because it shows how to behave in difficult situations. The fate of Zhilin and Kostylin is very instructive.