Among his best works, L. N. Tolstoy included the story “The Prisoner of the Caucasus” written in 1872 for the ABC. Its content was inspired by memories of a real case in the life of the writer himself. During his service in the Caucasus, he almost got captured. Leo Nikolayevich and the Chechen who was traveling next to him miraculously managed to escape from the highlanders pursuing them.
The image of Zhilin, a bold and decisive Russian officer who managed to resist the vicissitudes of fate, captures the work particularly.
Venue and main characters
"Prisoner of the Caucasus" - a story about the times of the war in the Caucasus. Zhilin receives a letter from her mother in which she asks her son to come home at least briefly. He is given leave, and the officer with the convoy - it was dangerous to ride alone - sets off. Time drags on slowly, therefore, together with another military, Kostylin, the hero decides to continue on his own. However, when the prudent Zhilin climbs a steep slope to look around the area, the highlanders notice him. Kostylin with a gun throws his companion, and the main character is left alone. In the first minute he decides to fight to the last, as befits a Russian officer. Himself rushes to the Tatar, but the forces are not equal. Wounded Zhilin is captured. Soon Kostylin was brought there.
In the village
Tatar, who got the Russian officers, decided to get a ransom for them. But Zhilin knew that his mother had nowhere to find money, because he wrote the wrong address on the envelope, and began to think how to get out of captivity himself. Having met with the master's daughter, the captive began to make clay dolls for her. In gratitude, Dina secretly brought cakes and milk. Zhilin, who knows how to do everything, liked the Tatars: he repaired the clock for one, and the gun for the other. The characterization of Zhilin from the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus” makes it clear that he was a hardworking man, accustomed to rely only on himself in everything.
Unlike Kostylin, who was just waiting for the ransom to be paid for him, the main character is active. He constantly ponders the escape plan. During his life in captivity, he finds a common language with the highlanders, winning the love of a girl. During walks, he explores the area and wonders where the Russian fortress is located. Makes in the barn - prisoners were kept there - undermining. He even fed the master's dog. Having foreseen all the surprises, Zhilin began to wait for the right moment.
First escape
Despite the betrayal of Kostylin, the hero decides to take it with him. Having successfully got out of the aul, officers in pitch darkness try to find a way. And here Zhilin behaves courageously. He, short and remote, with rugged legs, for a long time drags on himself an exhausted overweight Kostylin. And although in this way not much was able to get through during the night, Zhilin did not abandon his comrade.
The highlanders set off in pursuit seized both, but now they have already thrown them into the pit. The hero is trying to make a dig here, but the Tatars immediately noticed: there was nowhere to land. So the characteristic of Zhilin from the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus” shows his vitality and readiness in any situation to fight to the end.
Exemption
The captive nevertheless managed to escape. Dean helped. When there were almost no men left in the aul, 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 a block on his feet, overcoming pain and fatigue, the officer managed to get to his own in a night. Already in front of the fortress, the highlanders noticed him, but the Cossacks arrived in time to help - by the way, this was 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 protagonist not only survive, but also find a path to liberation. Such is the characteristic of Zhilin from the story "Prisoner of the Caucasus."
The protagonist: an assessment of the author and readers
L. Tolstoy sympathizes with the Russian officer. The surname of the hero testifies to this: 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 story of the Russian officer, everything seems to be simple, but behind this simplicity lies the true heroism and stamina characteristic of the Russian person.
Zhilin’s description from the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus” can be supplemented by a statement by V. Shklovsky. He noted that the main character is a good person. And for the reader to understand this, it is enough to know about him what is in the work.
Recognizing the high significance 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.