# XI explained — Hadji Murád

> Chapter companion for Hadji Murád by Leo Tolstoy.

## What happens

On the fifth day of Hadji Murád's stay in Tiflis, Lóris-Mélikov visits him at the Viceroy's command to record his life story for the Emperor. Hadji Murád begins his narrative, recounting his birth in Tselméss, his mother's refusal to nurse the Khan's son and the wound she received from his father, his childhood memories, and his early involvement with the Khans of Khunzákh. He describes the rise of Muridism under Kazi-Mullá and Hamzád, his visit to Tiflis with Umma Khan, and the treacherous murder of the Khans by Hamzád and Shamil, which filled him with shame and fear, a shame he has never forgotten.

## Themes in this chapter

### Honor and Betrayal

Hadji Murád recounts the betrayal of the Khans by Hamzád, who invited them under false pretenses and murdered them, highlighting the theme of treachery.

### Family and Sacrifice

Hadji Murád's mother sacrifices her own safety to nurse him, and the Khansha sends her sons to their deaths, illustrating familial bonds and tragic choices.

### Religious Faith and Fatalism

The Murid movement's call to Ghazavát (holy war) and the dying murid's exhortation to Hadji Murád to join reflect the role of religious faith in the conflict.

## Character check-ins

### Hadji Murád

Narrates his life story to Lóris-Mélikov, recounting his childhood, his mother's sacrifice, and the murder of the Khans by Hamzád and Shamil.

### Lóris-Mélikov

The Viceroy's aide-de-camp, who visits Hadji Murád to record his story for the Emperor, speaking fluent Tartar.

### Shamil

Mentioned as being beside Hamzád during the encounter with the Khans, and later as the one who threw Bulách Khan over the precipice.

### Khan Mahomá

Not directly present, but referenced as Umma Khan, the sworn brother of Hadji Murád, who was killed by Hamzád.

### Abu Nutsal Khan

The eldest Khan, foster-brother to Hadji Murád's brother Osman, who was killed fighting the murids after being betrayed by Hamzád.

### Hamzád

The Imam who succeeded Kazi-Mullá, who treacherously murdered the Khans and is a central figure in Hadji Murád's story.

### Patimát

Hadji Murád's mother, who nursed the Khans and was wounded by his father; she is now in Shamil's hands.

## Key lines

> My head and my hands are glad to serve the Sirdar

I am eager and willing to serve the Viceroy.

_Hadji Murád expresses his readiness to cooperate with Lóris-Mélikov._

> a woman has as much sense in her head as an egg has hair

Women are foolish and lack good judgment.

_Hadji Murád criticizes the Khansha's decision to send her son, reflecting cultural attitudes toward women._

> Since then I have always remembered that shame, and when I recalled it I feared nothing!

The memory of that shameful fear has made me fearless ever since.

_Hadji Murád explains how his fear during the Khans' murder transformed into a lifelong courage._

## Links

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