Caucasian captive has different fates. Essay on the topic “Zhilin and Kostylin: two characters - two destinies”

In the story " Prisoner of the Caucasus", which serves in part as an autobiography of Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy, there are two main characters. These are colleagues: Zhilin and Kostylin. Lev Nikolaevich himself became the prototype of Zhilin, and Kostylin’s hero was invented by him as a contrast to Zhilin.

Zhilin is described by Tolstoy as a strong-willed character, with strong spirit, and not wanting to lay down their heads before the trials that befall them. His colleague, on the contrary, is cowardly and lazy person, patiently awaiting the verdict of fate, and not wanting to decide it themselves.

The attentive reader will immediately notice that, despite the presence of two main characters, the story is called “Prisoner of the Caucasus.” I think: why? The fact is that Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, as a writer who knows how to convey the mood and essence of a story in a few words, called the work that way because he did not consider Kostylin a person worthy of being mentioned in history.

After being captured, Kostylin immediately, unconditionally, agrees to write a letter to his relatives. This means that he does not have his own goals, but hopes for his relatives and that they will ransom him. Zhilin, realizing that his mother will not collect enough money, indicates the wrong address in the letter, hoping to get out later, which he later succeeds. Zhilin does not run away just like that, he foresees all possible outcomes, plans his escape down to the smallest detail. And, being already ready, he also takes Kostylin, who at that time was not doing anything, but was only eating and sleeping. Zhilin is a purposeful person, ready to make sacrifices for the sake of friends and colleagues. Kostylin is a pampered egoist, incapable of anything. After the first unsuccessful attempt, which failed because of Kostylin, Zhilin still ran away, demonstrating his love of life and resilience, but Kostylin did not succeed because of his laziness.

The story ends with Lev Nikolaevich talking about the further fate of Zhilin. Zhilin remained to serve in the Caucasus, as befits a brave officer. About future fate Kostylin, except that he was bought out, nothing is known.

It is noteworthy that Lev Nikolaevich uses the names of the characters to describe their characters. Zhilin is associated with a strong man, strong in soul, not in body, which is clear to readers of “Prisoner of the Caucasus” from the beginning of the story to the end. The surname Kostylin, so similar to a crutch, indicates the laziness and cowardice of the character.

Thus, Lev Nikolaevich placed two opposing heroes in one story. He did this to educate future generations. So that in the future there will be no people like Kostylin, but only people like Zhilin.

The most striking are those works in which the main characters are completely different. It is these characters that are the basis of Leo Tolstoy’s story “Prisoner of the Caucasus.” The characters are Zhilin and Kostylin. These men have different destinies and characters. The story tells about their life in captivity of the Tatars and their attempt to escape. But the path to freedom is thorny, and in particular because these two officers are the complete opposite of each other.

First meeting of comrades

The events take place during the war. Officer Zhilin received a letter from his mother. She asks her son to return. Ivan, that’s the man’s name, considers the offer and agrees. It was dangerous to travel alone, so the soldiers walked in a column. The group moved slowly, and the thought that it was better to go alone came to his mind. As if hearing his thoughts, another officer, Kostylin, invites him to continue the journey together.

First Zilina and Kostylina are very important for further development events. The author does not talk about what he looks like main character, but gives a description of Kostylin. He is rough with sweat dripping off him due to the heat. After making sure that he has a loaded weapon and vowing to stick together, Zhilin agrees to the invitation.

Ambush and unexpected betrayal of a friend

The comrades are leaving. The entire path lies through the steppe, where the enemy is clearly visible. But then the road runs between two mountains. At this point a conflict of views arises. In the scene there is a comparison between Zhilin and Kostylin in terms of their sense of danger.

Two excellent warriors perceive the mountain gorge differently. Zhilin sees a potential threat and is sure that the Turks can ambush behind the rock. Kostylin is ready to move forward, despite the possible risk. Leaving his friend below, Ivan climbs the mountain and sees a group of horsemen. The enemies notice the officer and gallop towards him. Zhilin shouts at Kostylin to pull out his gun. But he, seeing the Tatars, rushes into the fortress.

Comparative characteristics Zhilin and Kostylin will be incomplete without considering this situation in more detail. The first cared about the safety of both, while the second difficult circumstances I was only thinking about own life. Kostylin left his comrade without a weapon. Ivan fought back for a long time, but the forces were unequal. He was taken prisoner. But already at the Tatars he learns that his unfortunate friend was also ambushed.

Second and unexpected meeting of former friends

The man spent some time in a closed barn. Then he was taken to the house of the Tatars. There they explained to him that the man who captured the soldier sold him to another Tatar. And he, in turn, wants to receive a ransom of 3,000 rubles for Ivan. The officer, without hesitation for a long time, refused and said that he could not afford such an amount. The most he can offer is 500 gold. The last word it was firm and unshakable. His comrade is brought into the room.

And the appearance of Zhilin and Kostylin is very different. The second officer is fat, barefoot, exhausted, ragged, with stocks on his feet. Zilina is no better, but the thirst for fight has not yet died out in him. New owner sets Kostylin as an example and says that he will be accepted for a ransom of 5,000 rubles.

The author shows how humbly he accepts an offer of such a high price. Ivan achieved that the price for his soul would be But still he understands that his mother, who lives on the money that he himself sends to her, would have to sell everything in order to free her son. Therefore, the officer writes the wrong address so that the letter does not arrive. The comparative characteristics of Zhilin and Kostylin when establishing the ransom amount indicate that the first officer takes care of his mother, even if he is threatened with death. Kostylin is not worried about how money is raised for his release.

Attempting to escape from the enemy

Time passes. Leo Tolstoy vividly describes the everyday life of Zhilin. A man wins the heart of his owner's daughter when he makes clay dolls for her. He gains respect in the village as a master, and even through cunning - as a doctor. But every night, when the shackles are removed, he digs a passage under the wall. He works during the day, thinking about which direction he should run. The characteristics of Zhilin and Kostylin in captivity are completely opposite. Zhilin does not sit still, unlike his comrade. And he sleeps or is sick all the time, waiting for the storm associated with the death of one of the Tatar warriors to pass.

One night Zhilin decides to run away. He also offers this to his cellmate. Kostylin is skeptical about this. He states that they do not know the way and will get lost at night. But the argument that because of the death of a Tatar, they, like Russians, can take revenge, finally convinces him.

Fighting your own abilities

The prisoners act. Trying to get out, the clumsy Kostylin makes a noise. The dogs growled. But the prudent Ivan fed the dogs for a long time. Therefore, they quickly calmed down their commotion. They get out of the village, but the fat man is out of breath and falls behind. He gives up very quickly and asks to leave him.

The comparative characteristics of Zhilin and Kostylin are a competition between cowardice and strength. Both are tired. The night is impenetrable, they are forced to go almost by touch. Bad boots rub your feet until they bleed. Kostylin stops and rests over and over again. Subsequently, he becomes exhausted and says that he is unable to continue his journey.

Then his friend pulls him on his back. Because Kostylin screams in pain, they are noticed and tracked down. Before dawn, the comrades were caught and this time thrown into a hole. And there the portrait of Zhilin and Kostylin is opposite. An officer thirsty for freedom is trying to dig a hole, but there is nowhere to put the earth and stones.

More and more often we hear talk from enemies that Russians need to be killed.

Finale and will

The owner's daughter comes to the rescue. She lowers a pole into the hole, along which, with the help of a friend, Zhilin climbs up the mountain. The weak Kostylin remains with the Tatars. He runs away with his legs shackled, but nevertheless gets to his army.

After some time, money is paid for Kostylin. He returns barely alive. This is where the work ends. The author does not say what awaits the characters with the names Zhilin and Kostylin next. The heroes have different destinies, the first one relied only on own capabilities, the second was waiting for manna from heaven. They are two poles that are guided by different principles and rules. If Zhilin is stubborn, courageous and freedom-loving, then his partner in misfortune is weak, lazy and cowardly.

A wonderful-hearted officer

The main characters of Leo Tolstoy are Zhilin and Kostylin. This story is about two officers. The first fought bravely, the second humbly accepted everything that life had in store for him. Zhilin is characterized by such a trait as care. He thinks about the old mother when they asked for a ransom, worries about the fate of his friend, so he does not leave him in the village of enemies, for the girl who helped him get out of the hole.

She is ordered to hide the pole that she brought so that Zhilin can rise. His heart is full of kindness and love. The officer fell in love with the simple, peaceful people of the Tatars. Therefore, it makes their life easier in every possible way. He is a symbol of everything bright and sincere in the work.

Kostylin - hero or anti-hero?

Kostylin is often considered a negative hero. He abandoned his comrade in trouble, distinguished himself by laziness and weakness, and brought danger to both of them. There is nothing to say about the cowardice of a man, because every now and then helplessness is manifested in his actions.

The characterization of Zhilin and Kostylin is an analysis of two opposing types of courage. But Kostylin showed more courage when he refused to repeat the escape attempt. Moreover, as best I could, I helped my friend get out of the hole. He understood all his weakness and did not dare to set his comrade up again. It is in such actions that the secret of his essence lies.

And Kostylin are both in charge actors story by L. N. Tolstoy “Prisoner of the Caucasus”. The author wrote this work during the period Caucasian War, more precisely at the very last years war, when one day he himself almost became prey to the enemy. Tolstoy, together with his friend named Sado, barely managed to ride horses to the border so as not to be captured by the Tatars. This incident prompted the writer to create the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus” (1872).

Zhilin and Kostylin became friends during their service; both were officers. It so happened that on the way to their native lands they were both captured by the Tatars. And this happened due to Kostylin’s fault. He was a man of weak character and undecided. When he saw the Tatars running towards them, he immediately abandoned his friend in trouble and began to run away. However, nothing worked out for him. Both were captured and locked in shackles in the barn. All further actions seemed to reveal the characters’ character even more.

The author deliberately focuses on the difference between these heroes, because he wants to show what cowardice and weakness are fraught with. If you think about it, he also came up with “speaking” surnames. One is made of a “vein,” that is, of strength and will, and the other is associated with a “crutch,” that is, with weakness and the absence of an internal core. When the Tatars order each of them to write home a letter asking for a ransom, Zhilin, unlike his friend, writes the wrong address so as not to frighten the old mother, who does not have that kind of money.

The next time the characters' character is revealed is when they plan to escape. They managed to escape to dark time days, but in the forest, due to Kostylin’s fault, they again ended up in the hands of the Tatars. Zhilin made his second attempt to escape without his friend. They were put in a deep hole and heavy stocks were put on their feet. Kostylin was unable to escape. Firstly, after the first unsuccessful attempt, he immediately gave up. Secondly, he did not have enough strength and will to take this decisive step.

As a result, Zhilin fled alone. Thirteen-year-old Dina helped him, who brought a long stick to pull her friend out of the hole. She was always kind to him. She brought food and water at the request of the officer, and in return he made clay dolls for her. The second escape was more successful. Despite the difficulties that Zhilin encountered along the way, he was able to reach the border, and in the end he crawled. There he was picked up by the Cossacks.

Zhilin changed his mind about going home and remained to serve in the Caucasus. Kostylin had to remain in captivity for another month. He was released for a large ransom, barely alive. This is the result of his cowardice, weakness and unreliability. If he had been stronger in spirit, they would have escaped together long ago, and maybe they would not have been captured. So L.N. Tolstoy showed how people who find themselves in the same situation behave completely differently due to differences in character. Such is the character, such is the destiny.

Two destinies, two heroes, but how different they are. Two Russian officers serve in the Caucasus, fulfilling their duty to the Fatherland. Having been captured by the Tatars, one strives for freedom, and the second humbly awaits his fate. So why are such different destinies from two noble officers.
Zhilin Ivan is a Russian officer, from a poor noble family. He is short in stature, but a handsome and daring young gentleman. He serves in the Caucasus, helping his old mother with money. He is not married, his mother found him a suitable bride and is waiting at home. Going to visit his mother, Zhilin takes a vacation, but on the way home he is captured. Here his moral qualities are revealed: rebellious, with a strong character, he does not lose hope, he is an optimist and believes in himself.
He is careful, but persistent in his aspirations, tries to act in any circumstances. Strong and courageous, he cannot come to terms with the position of a prisoner. There is no one to expect help from, relying only on himself, Zhilin is ready to carry a comrade on himself, without leaving him to be torn to pieces by enemies Smart and straightforward, Zhilin knows how to get along with people, he is respected even by his enemies, for his character, “golden hands” and his sense of dignity, which he does not lose even in captivity. Thanks to his ingenuity, dexterity, he managed to escape, and courage, bravery and a thirst for life, help him successfully reach “his people.”
Kostylin is from a wealthy noble family, a Russian officer and serves in the Caucasus. Tall, a clumsy “sissy”, fat and weak. A pessimist by nature, Kostylin does not try to change anything, having been captured. He is waiting for his ransom to be paid for him family, sleeps and complains about life. A weak-willed gentleman, cowardly and unable to do anything. His health is weak, and his spirit is even weaker. He can easily abandon a comrade in trouble, which is what he did with Zhilin.
Remaining in captivity, Kostylin received his freedom, he was ransomed a month later, but barely alive.
A craving for freedom and a thirst for life save Zhilin from death, there is no one to pay a ransom for him and death awaits him. He sees the good in life, helps people, and for this even his enemies respect him, and in the little girl Dina he finds a friend who helps him to escape. Honor and dignity helped Zhilin to remain an officer in any situation, even in captivity. Zhilin’s fate is the fate of the defender of the Motherland, for him honor and conscience are not empty words, which cannot be said about Kostylin. Having abandoned a comrade in trouble, becoming a coward in front of the enemy, he chooses the fate of a prisoner, weak-willed and devastated. A prisoner of his conscience, Kostylin will never be able to speak with pride about defending the Motherland.
Sissies have no place among officers; money only saves his life, not honor and dignity. Such different fates for two comrades who served together in the Caucasus.

In literature lessons we got acquainted with the story of L.N. Tolstoy "Prisoner of the Caucasus". The main character of this work is the Russian officer Zhilin, who was accidentally captured by the Tatars.

There is another hero in the story, also an officer of the Russian army, Kostylin. Tolstoy talks about the captivity of these people in his work. Zhilin and Kostylin are completely different in character. Their destinies are different. They also differ in appearance. Kostylin is overweight and fat. He was sweating as the convoy moved towards the fortress. And I imagine Zhilin as slender, very active.

From the very first events, Tolstoy shows how different his heroes are from each other. When they drove ahead of the convoy, Kostylin had a loaded gun. But as soon as he saw the Tatars, he immediately forgot about him. He rushed to his heels and did not think at all that Zhilin was in great danger and that he and the gun could help him in any way. Zhilin, on the contrary, when he realized that he could not escape the pursuit, decided to kill at least one Tatar with a saber.

Heroes behave differently even in captivity. Kostylin immediately writes a letter home asking for a ransom to be sent. Zhilin is bargaining. He thinks about his mother, who will not be able to find not only three thousand, but also five hundred rubles. Therefore, he writes the address on the letter incorrectly. He relies only on himself. Zhilin immediately decided to escape from captivity.

He is very active. Always making something or walking around the village. But for a reason. Zhilin is looking for a way to escape. He makes a hole in the barn. At the same time, Kostylit only sleeps or “sits in the barn all day long and counts the days until the letter arrives.” He does not try to do anything on his own to save himself. He just hopes for others.

During his escape, Kostylin let down both himself and his comrade. He didn't think about being careful. When his legs began to hurt, Kostylin screamed, although he knew that a Tatar had recently passed by them, and with his scream he could attract his attention. And so it happened. And Zhilin again thinks not only about himself but also about his comrade. He does not escape from captivity alone, but calls Kostylin with him. When Kostylin can no longer walk from the pain in his legs, Zhilin carries him on himself, because “it’s not good to abandon a comrade.”

Despite any difficulties, Zhilin still escapes from captivity. He knows that he has no one to rely on. Therefore, he must save himself. He is a strong character person. He succeeds in everything. And Kostylin is weak-willed. He relies on others. Therefore, he almost dies in captivity. They ransomed him alive. This is how different characters influence the fate of each of the heroes.