# XII explained — Hadji Murád

> Chapter companion for Hadji Murád by Leo Tolstoy.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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