Hadji Murád · Chapter
XII explained
Lóris-Mélikov observes Hadji Murád's murids—Khan Mahomá, Eldár, Gamzálo, and Khanéfi—as they debate Shamil's holiness, smoke secretly, and reveal their diverse loyalties.
What happens
Lóris-Mélikov observes Hadji Murád's murids—Khan Mahomá, Eldár, Gamzálo, and Khanéfi—as they debate Shamil's holiness, smoke secretly, and reveal their diverse loyalties. Lóris-Mélikov grows suspicious that Gamzálo's open hatred of Russians may indicate a ruse, and that Hadji Murád's surrender could be a spy mission.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Mistrust
Lóris-Mélikov suspects Hadji Murád's surrender may be a ruse, and Gamzálo's open hatred fuels this distrust.
Religious Faith and Fatalism
The murids debate the holiness of Shamil and Mansúr, and Hadji Murád pauses to pray at the appointed time.
Characters to notice
- Hadji Murád
Prays after showing Vorontsóv's repeater watch; his murids discuss loyalty to Shamil.
- Lóris-Mélikov
Observes and questions the murids; suspects Gamzálo's hatred may indicate a plot.
- Khan Mahomá
Merry and reckless; praises Mansúr over Shamil; smokes secretly and tells of winning money at orlyánka.
- Eldár
Handsome, devoted murid; polishes saddle and obeys Hadji Murád promptly.
- Gamzálo
One-eyed, red-haired murid; defends Shamil as holy; shows open hatred of Russians.
- Khanéfi
Hairy, strong murid; explains he was adopted as a brother by Hadji Murád's family after a blood feud.
Key passages
“Kunák Vorontsóv’s present. It is a good watch.”
Hadji Murád shows off the repeater watch given by Vorontsóv, calling it a fine gift.
Highlights Hadji Murád's childlike pleasure in the watch and his bond with Vorontsóv.
“I had only twelve kopecks... Why give it? I should have run away, and if anyone had tried to stop me I should have killed him—that’s all!”
Khan Mahomá admits he gambled with only twelve kopecks, planning to flee or kill anyone who stopped him if he lost.
Reveals Khan Mahomá's reckless, life-as-sport attitude.
“I did not shave my head nor cut my nails for two months, and then I came to them. They let me in to Patimát, his mother, and she gave me the breast and I became his brother.”
Khanéfi explains the ritual of adoption: he refrained from shaving and cutting nails for two months, then was accepted by Hadji Murád's mother as a foster brother.
Illustrates the deep bonds of adoptive kinship in Caucasian culture.