Haji Russia Character Analysis

As one of Russia 's famous authors, Leo Tolstoy used his skills as a writer to illustrate various historical accounts of certain important events of Russian history as well as his criticisms of government and corruption through his novels. Although mostly fictitious, Tolstoy 's novels/novellas would be used as understand the emotions and thoughts of people from every class, religion, and background in Russia to a particular event in Russia history such as the Napoleonic Wars or the War with Turkey. Haji Murat is based upon a real life account of the person in which the title is named after. Haji Murat was considered a villain among the Russian people due to his relations with Imam Shamil, the Muslim leader of Northern Caucus tribes and enemy …show more content…
An important observation made in this short novella is the interaction between the Russians represented by Tsar I and his officials, the Cossacks represented by Haji Murad and his murids and finally the Muslims represented by Imam Shamil. The Cossacks were considered to be "semi-independent Tartar groups, which formed in the Dnieper region," (Britannica). Historically, relationship between the Cossacks and the Russians are characterized as a tumultuous at times but most of the time they were considered allies. However, in the text, one can observe the true nature of the Russians towards the Cossacks and the Cossacks towards the Russians. The Russians always mistrusted the Cossacks even when the Cossacks proved to be the most loyal people. In desperation to save his family, Haji Murat finally surrenders to the Russians, in which he felt their alliance would help him defeat Shamil. " He pictured to himself how with the army Vorontsov would place at his disposal- he would march against Shamil and take him prisoner and revenge himself on him," (Tolstoy pg. 25). Haji gives his word that he would help the Russians fight against Shamil and be loyal to the Tsar, but Vorontsov …show more content…
The Muslims, particularly Shamil, hated the Russians and wanted to wipe out as many Russians as he possibly could. When the council of Shamil finds out that the Russians are encouraging him to surrender to them, they warn him to not listen to the Russians. " It is better to die in enmity with the Russians than to live with the Unbelievers," (Tolstoy pg. 101) This shows the hatred for the Russians in part of the Muslims The Muslims are extreme in their hatred towards the Russians in which they decide to use the sword to wipe down their enemy. Another example of the Muslims and Russian interaction is when the Russian soldiers destroyed an aoul and the mosque after being given an order by Tsar Nicholas I. "They were ordered to burn the corn and the hay as well as the saklyas, and the whole aoul was soon filled with pungent smoke amid which the soldiers rushed about…. Above all catching and shooting the fowls the mountaineers had not been able to take them away," (Tolstoy pg. 89). The soldiers also tried to kill the Cossacks and chased them until the Cossacks were able to escape. The way the Russians destroyed the homes of the Muslims and burned everything the Muslims worked hard to build and grow helps the reader to understand the animosity the Muslims feel against the Russians. " It was not hatred for they did not regard those Russian dogs as human beings, but it