46 pages • 1 hour read
Leo TolstoyHadji Murat
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1912A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 1-6Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 1 Summary
The narrator begins with an anecdote about encountering a resilient Tartar thistle while walking home through fields during the harvest. Attempting to pick the thistle for a bouquet, the narrator struggles with its prickliness and toughness, regretting the vain destruction and disposal of a once beautiful flower. The discarded thistle prompts reflections on human cruelty and the annihilation of living beings and plants for human survival. Despite harm from humans and their plows, the thistle's resilience and refusal to yield remind the narrator of an old story from the Caucasus.
In late 1851, the disguised Hadji Murat and his follower, Eldar, seek refuge in a Chechen village from Imam Shamil's forces. Murat, a respected and feared Avar rebel commander, is seeking refuge after a falling out with the Chechen leader and former ally, Imam Shamil. An old acquaintance, Sado, shelters them despite the risks posed by Shamil's capture order for Murat. At Sado's home, they discuss the danger from Shamil. They plan to contact Russian Prince Vorontsov with the help of a guide, Bata, whom they trust. Later, Murad discreetly entrusts Sado with a message for his son in Chekhi, emphasizing its importance. Despite the dangers, Sado vows to protect Murat, a commitment he sees as his duty even if it costs him his life.
Chapter 2 Summary
That same night at Fort Vozdvizhensk, a distance from where Murat stays, Corporal Panov leads three Russian soldiers to establish an outpost beyond Chakhgirinsky Gate, aiming to block surprise mountaineer attacks. Despite a no-smoking rule at their post, the relaxed soldiers smoke.
The soldiers are interrupted when two of Murat's Chechen scouts, Bata and his partner, arrive seeking to deliver an urgent message to Prince Vorontsov. Initially bracing for confrontation, the soldiers lead the unarmed scouts to the Colonel. Afterward, one of the Russian soldiers, Avdeev, expresses admiration for the Chechens, noting their shared humanity.
Chapter 3 Summary
In a small Caucasian fort, quiet pervades except for Prince Vorontsov's lit residence, where he and his wife, Marya Vasilevna, a notable beauty from Petersburg, live. They lead a lavish life, playing cards late with two officers, including Commander Poltoratsky. Though the prince and his wife deem their lifestyle modest compared to their usual standard, the soldiers at the fort view the Vorontsov's affluence as extraordinary.
An officer interrupts their card game with a message for Prince Vorontsov. After a brief departure, the prince returns and suggests they celebrate with champagne, hinting he received a message from potential defector and former Russian enemy Hadji Murat.
Poltoratsky, distracted by Marya Vasilevna's charm, makes errors in the card game. Post-game, as guests depart, Poltoratsky wrestles with his drunken servant, Vovilo.
Once alone, the Vorontsovs discuss the late visitor, revealed as Murat's emissary. Murat and Prince Vorontsov plan to meet the next day, which thrills the couple.
Chapter 4 Summary
Sado wakes Murat and Eldar in the middle of the night, alerting them that the village knows of Murat's presence and plans to capture him to please Shamil. Grasping the situation's urgency, Murat and Eldar hastily leave, dodging the villagers' attempt to capture them.
As they flee toward safety, 20 villagers chase them, aiming to seize Murat as a sign of allegiance to Shamil. Murat, evading capture through a tense skirmish, escapes with Eldar to a forest sanctuary where his followers, including his adopted brother, Avar Hanefi, await.
In the forest, Murat contemplates his luck, his plan to overthrow Shamil with Prince Vorontsov's aid, and his dream of ruling Avaria and Chechnya. The following morning, Murat receives news of successful negotiations for Russian support. Prince Vorontsov agrees to meet with Murat, indicating a willingness to collaborate against Shamil. Encouraged by this news, Murat readies for the meeting, ensuring his men appear presentable for the Russians.
Chapter 5 Summary
Poltoratsky and his soldiers march out early in the morning to cut wood beyond Chakhgirinsky Gate. As the mist lifts with daybreak, they pause for a meal, discussing General Sleptsov's death in action and romanticizing the notion of combat. Their talk halts at a distant rifle shot, prompting Poltoratsky to ready his men for a potential attack. Spotting horsemen, identified as Chechens who had pursued Murat, Poltoratsky commands to fire, sparking an exchange of shots; the Russian soldier Avdeev is severely injured.
Prince Vorontsov arrives, announcing Murat's surrender to the Russians and their upcoming meeting. Poltoratsky meets Murat and is surprised by Murat's kindness and imposing appearance, a contrast to his infamous reputation. Murat formally surrenders, pledging to serve as a Russian ally.
As he rides back to the fortress with Vorontsov, Murat's presence evokes mixed reactions from the Russian soldiers; some admire his prowess while others are skeptical of the attention he garners.
Chapter 6 Summary
Vorontsov celebrates securing Murat's allegiance as a major triumph over Shamil, Russia's most powerful enemy. However, Vorontsov’s bypassing of General Meller-Zakomelsky, the commanding officer, stirs worries of potential backlash. At home, Vorontsov introduces Murat to his family, where Murat earns Marya Vasilevna's favor through a declaration of kinship. He also gives Vorontsov's son, Bulka, his dagger. Despite a friendly reception, Murat stays cautious of betrayal by his new allies.
Tension arises with a visit from General Meller-Zakomelsky's aide, signaling the general's displeasure at being out of the loop. Meller-Zakomelsky summons Murat for a meeting. Marya Vasilevna accompanies Vorontsov and Murat to meet the general, where a confrontation unfolds over Murat's defection taking place without the General’s knowledge. Marya's charm helps ease the situation, resulting in an uneasy truce that places Murat under the general's temporary oversight.
Through these events, Murat discerns the internal power dynamics, realizing Vorontsov's superior influence over Meller-Zakomelsky. This insight reassures Murat of his valued status with the Russians. In conversation with General Meller-Zakomelsky, Murat maintains a dignified stance, affirming his commitment to serve the White Tsar and acknowledging only Vorontsov as his superior.
Chapters 1-6 Analysis
In the opening chapter of Hadji Murat, Tolstoy introduces the reader to a seemingly mundane yet symbolic encounter with a Tartar thistle. Attempting to pick a thistle for a bouquet, the narrator struggles with its prickliness and toughness. This moment of struggle becomes a realization for the narrator, prompting a reflection on humanity's attempts at destruction and control. The narrator's subsequent regret over his vain destruction of the thistle serves as a commentary on human interaction with nature and with each other. The discarded thistle, with its tenacity and vitality, becomes a metaphor for the central theme of resilience. The thistle's resilience from humanity’s plows reminds the narrator of an old story from the Caucasus. This is the story of Hadji Murat, a character whose life and struggles encapsulate the narrative’s theme of the Resilience of the Human Spirit.
Similarly, the resilient Tartar thistle serves as a symbol of the native populations' resistance against the imperial forces of Russia and the broader encroachments of imperialism. Tolstoy critiques the mechanisms of the state, which, in its pursuit of expansion, disregards the natural rights and lives of those it seeks to subjugate or protect. This theme is evident in the discussions and plans central to the Russian military and administrative operations, as well as in the precarious situation of Hadji Murat, who becomes a pawn in the larger geopolitical game.
In Chapter 2, the encounter at Chakhgirinsky Gate between Corporal Panov's soldiers and Hadji Murat's Chechen scouts offers an exploration of cultural interactions and the discovery of shared humanity amid conflict. Initially marked by tension and the anticipation of violence, the meeting unexpectedly evolves into a moment of mutual respect and recognition of common humanity. Avdeev's admiration for the Chechens demonstrates a capacity for empathy and connection across cultural and military divides, challenging conventional notions of an "enemy." His positive view of the Chechens, despite language and cultural barriers, reshapes the soldiers' perceptions of their adversaries. This interaction not only critiques imperialism and the structures perpetuating such confrontations but also sheds light on the indifference of individuals, like the Russian soldiers, entangled in the larger schemes of power. Further dialogue between Panov and Avdeev reveals Avdeev's sense of ennui and longing for home; he regrets his decision to enlist as a substitute for his brother. These moments act as conduits for Tolstoy's pacifist views, illustrating how ordinary individuals become ensnared in war due to imperialist ambitions. Through these scenes, Tolstoy critiques Russian imperialism and delves into topics of duty, sacrifice, and the personal toll of military service, shedding light on the true cost of war.
This theme extends into Chapter 3, where Tolstoy contrasts the opulent lifestyle of Prince Vorontsov and his wife, Marya Vasilevna, with the soldiers' more austere existence, highlighting the dichotomy of power within the military hierarchy and offering insight into the structure of imperial Russia. This gap reflects the broader social and economic inequalities of Tsarist Russia, where elite wealth sharply contrasts with the modesty of the soldiers. Similarly, in Chapter 6, the confrontation between Vorontsov and General Meller-Zakomelsky, observed by Murat, serves to confirm the high stakes of Murat’s defection. This moment reveals the internal friction within the Russian command, as Murat's presence exacerbates tensions among the leaders. This reflects a broader critique of state operations, where leaders' personal ambitions and diverse objectives undermine military efficiency. Thus, Tolstoy questions the efficacy of war leadership and examines the broader implications of a non-unified command on the state’s function and its impact on individual lives within the military structure.
As a Muslim Avar who has historically opposed Russian forces, Murat seeks support from Russian Prince Vorontsov. This defection, pivotal to the novella, exposes Murat's personal motivations and the complicated nature of alliances and political dynamics in the Caucasus. Though Murat’s primary aim is to rescue his family, his ambitions extend further to overthrowing Shamil to assume leadership over Avaria and Chechnya. Such ambitions are not portrayed as wholly noble; instead, they are tinged with personal vendettas and aspirations for power. Murat’s alliance with the Russians, though appearing contradictory, underscores the opportunistic essence of imperial politics and the personal dilemmas of those entangled within it.
Related Titles
By Leo Tolstoy
