# IV explained — Hadji Murád

> Chapter companion for Hadji Murád by Leo Tolstoy.

## What happens

Hadji Murád, after three sleepless nights fleeing Shamil's murids, rests at Sado's aoul. Warned that the village elders plan to detain him, he and his murid Eldár escape under cover of darkness, pursued by mounted villagers. He fires a warning shot and gallops into the forest, where his loyal followers await. After performing his nightly prayer, he falls into deep thought, dreaming of revenge against Shamil and future glory under the Russian Tsar.

## Themes in this chapter

### Honor and Betrayal

Sado's warning of the elders' plan to detain Hadji Murád highlights the precariousness of trust and the threat of betrayal even among fellow villagers.

### Resilience and Defiance

Hadji Murád's swift escape and willingness to fire on pursuers demonstrate his unyielding defiance and resourcefulness under pressure.

### Religious Faith and Fatalism

Hadji Murád performs his nightly prayer even in the midst of flight, and reflects on his faith in fortune and fate.

## Character check-ins

### Hadji Murád

Flees Sado's aoul after being warned of betrayal; dreams of capturing Shamil and ruling Chechnya with Russian help.

### Eldár

Hadji Murád's loyal murid; sleeps nearby and follows him during the escape.

### Sado

Hosts Hadji Murád and warns him of the elders' plan to detain him.

### Khan Mahomá

Returns from a mission to Prince Vorontsóv, reporting the Prince's promise to receive Hadji Murád as a guest.

### Bata

Accompanies Khan Mahomá on the mission; adds details about Vorontsóv's response and receives three rubles from Hadji Murád.

### Khanéfi

Hadji Murád's sworn brother and household manager; meets him in the forest and helps extinguish the fire.

### Gamzálo

A Chechen murid who takes up a rifle and guards the glade after the fire is put out.

## Key lines

> When planning anything he always felt in advance firmly convinced of success, and fate smiled on him.

He approached every plan with an unshakable belief that he would succeed, and luck seemed to favor him.

_Reflects Hadji Murád's characteristic optimism and reliance on fortune._

> He pictured to himself how—with the army Vorontsóv would place at his disposal—he would march against Shamil and take him prisoner, and revenge himself on him; and how the Russian Tsar would reward him, and how he would again rule not only over Avaria, but over the whole of Chechnya, which would submit to him.

He imagined leading Vorontsóv's forces to capture Shamil, gaining revenge, earning the Tsar's favor, and reclaiming dominion over Avaria and all of Chechnya.

_Reveals Hadji Murád's ambitions and his vision of future power through alliance with Russia._

> The men from the aoul stopped, and Hadji Murád, rifle in hand, rode down into the ravine.

The villagers halted, and Hadji Murád descended into the ravine with his rifle ready.

_Shows his decisive action and the pursuers' hesitation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadji_mur_d_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadji_mur_d_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadji_mur_d_se/chapters