(356 words) Leo Tolstoy masterfully created a gallery of unique and extraordinary characters in his works. For example, in the work “Prisoner of the Caucasus”, the author, placing people in similar situations, reveals their positive and negative qualities. One of the main characters of the work is Officer Zhilin, who can be described as a brave and conscientious person. The second protagonist is the Russian officer Kostylin, who, in fact, is the antipode of his partner. I want to talk more about him.
The author describes Kostylin as a weak, spoiled and overly lazy person. His last name came from the word "crutch." There is an assumption that Tolstoy as if prompts him with his last name, that Kostylin needs the help of other people as physically unhealthy people. The hero absolutely cannot make serious decisions on his own, he hides from responsibility and problems, sometimes not only in a figurative sense.
Kostylin is a friend of Zhilin, this is shown to us by the author at the very beginning of the story. On the way, they break away from their group to get home as soon as possible. But Kostylin goes for the campaign, because he easily falls under the influence of strangers. At some point the Tatars overtook them, Zhilin fought to the end without any weapons and cried out for help to Kostylin, who, by the way, had it. However, the partner betrays him, succumbs to cowardice and escapes. The unarmed officer is unable to fight off the Tatars, and he is captured. By chance, a fugitive is brought to the same village. Russian officers are closed in the barn. The main Tatar forces the prisoners to write notes to the relatives about the ransom for them. Kostylin in this situation only cares about his own life and complies with all the voiced demands of the highlanders. And even when Zhilin is piling over the preparation of an escape plan, Kostylin does not show any involvement.
Russian officers flee from the Tatars, and even then Kostylin behaves low. The character does not stop complaining that boots rubbed his feet. Zhilin is a man of honor; therefore, he cannot leave a friend and carries him on him. As a result: they are again caught and returned back to captivity. Again the cowardly Kostylin did not dare to escape from captivity, and preferred to wait for the ransom.
There were two “Caucasian captives”, but one found strength to overcome difficulties and was able to escape, while the second showed weakness and selfishness and decided to dutifully wait for the ransom. But no money will bring freedom to the hero. Kostylin is a life prisoner, because he is imprisoned in his own powerlessness.
