Bentley Odom Hadji Murad

1. Bentley OdomHadji Murad Author: Leo TolstoyPublisher: FQ ClassicsYear of Publication: 1912

2. Introduction • The novel Hadji Murad is set in the Caucasus Mountains during the middle of the nineteenth century. The main character, Hadji Murad, a legendary warrior, has gone to seek help from the Russian Empire to retrieve his family. They are being held captive by Imam Shamil, the leader of the Chechens. Hadji makes a deal with Prince Vorontsov, the leader of the Russians Empire,that if he surrenders and swears to fight with them against Shamil instead of with him, the Russians will help him fight for his family. There is one problem- the Russian peoplewant to capture Hadji because they do not trust him; he has caused them great damage in the past. Everything in this story is a race to save Hadji’s family.

3. Protagonist and Antagonist • Protagonist – Hadji Murad • Hadji is the main character. He is renowned in the story for being a legendary warrior. • Antagonist – Imam Shamil, Russian townspeople • Shamil is the leader of the Chechens, a group of Tartar Mountaineers. • The Russian townspeople do not like Hadji Murad because he has caused them so much harm in the past. Hadji Murad Shamil Russian townspeople

4. Central Conflict • The central conflict of this story is that Hadji Murad, a dignified and legendary warrior is on the run to save his family from Imam Shamil, the leader of the Chechens of the Caucuses Mountains in Russia. Shamil is holding Hadji’s family captive until Hadji agrees to fight for him in his army, which he will never do. He tries to find help from the Russian Empireand swears to surrender to the town as long as they help him retrieve his family. However, the people plan to capture Hadji; but as they try, he flees, for he finds information that his family has been moved to a different location and they are running out of time. Hadji must go to fight for his family knowing that something horrible might happen.

5. MinorCharacters • Prince Vorontsov is the prince of the Russian Empire; Hadji Murad befriends him and his family. • Sadois a citizen of the small town that lets Hadji Murad refuge while he is first there. • Tsar Nicholas 1 is the Emperor and Autocrat of all of the Russians during the mid nineteenth century. Tolstoy describes him as being overweight and malicious and egotistical buffoon; however, he runs his people with a somewhat harsh but righteous and just hand. Prince Vorontsov Tsar Nicholas 1 Sado

6. What Critics Said… • Alan Cheuse says that Hadji Murad gives us a panoramic view of the Russian society and rebellion by contrast. He also states that Tolstoy gives us an opportunity to see everyone, main figures and lesser ones, and this allows us to come up with beautiful images with ease. • This is an article that was posted just after the Boston Bombing. LieslSchillinger found shelter and bliss in the timeless Caucasus Mountains that Tolstoy describes in Hadji Murad. This article states that this novel taught important lessons on Heroism and identity. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/22/turning-to-tolstoy-s-hadji-murad-as-boston-locked-down.html http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=1475316&m=1475317

7. What I Said… • Although the story was beautifully written, I do not believe that Hadji Murad fit the student demographic, I found the story line hard to follow and non-climactic until the end. I would, however, recommend this novel to an elderly person because I believe that they might be able to relate to the time period better than me and my piers would.