# XIII explained — Hadji Murád

> Chapter companion for Hadji Murád by Leo Tolstoy.

## What happens

Hadji Murád continues his life story to Lóris-Mélikov, recounting the murder of the Khans by Hamzád, his own revenge killing of Hamzád, the subsequent rise of Shamil, his refusal to join Shamil, his arrest and torture by Akhmet Khan, his dramatic escape from a cliff, and his eventual recovery and return to power in Tselméss. He also shares letters from General Klügenau urging him to return to Russian service, but explains his deep mistrust and his primary need to rescue his family from Shamil.

## Themes in this chapter

### Honor and Betrayal

Hadji Murád's narrative is driven by personal honor, revenge for the Khans, and his sense of betrayal by both Shamil and Akhmet Khan.

### Family and Sacrifice

Hadji Murád's family is held hostage by Shamil, and his actions are constrained by his desire to free them, highlighting the theme of familial bonds and sacrifice.

### Deception and Mistrust

Both Klügenau's letters and Hadji Murád's own story reveal deep mistrust between the Russians and the mountaineers, with accusations of treachery and broken promises.

## Character check-ins

### Hadji Murád

Narrates his past, including the killing of Hamzád, his escape from Akhmet Khan, and his current predicament with his family held by Shamil.

### Lóris-Mélikov

Listens to Hadji Murád's story and reads the letters from Klügenau.

### Khan Mahomá

Mentioned as a 'frivolous fellow' by Hadji Murád.

### Eldár

Described by Hadji Murád as 'young, but firm—made of iron'.

### Shamil

Referred to as the successor of Hamzád, who holds Hadji Murád's family and seeks to kill him.

### Akhmet Khan

Described as the enemy who calumniated Hadji Murád, had him arrested, and tied him to a cannon.

### General Klügenau

Author of the letters urging Hadji Murád to return, promising justice and protection.

### Hamzád

Killed by Hadji Murád and his brother Osman in revenge for the murder of the Khans.

## Key lines

> I am tied up, and the end of the rope is in Shamil’s hands

Hadji Murád feels completely constrained because Shamil controls his family's fate.

_Metaphor for his helplessness and dependence on Shamil's mercy regarding his family._

> Where the forelegs have gone, the hind legs must follow!

Once Hamzád killed the Khans, he had to eliminate the entire family to secure his position.

_Proverbial expression justifying the killing of the Khansha and her children._

> I had my dagger in my hand, and I killed him with it and rushed at Hamzád

Hadji Murád describes his swift and decisive attack on Hamzád's murid and then on Hamzád himself.

_Key moment of revenge in the mosque._

> I jumped down and pulled him with me. He was killed outright, but I, as you see, remained alive.

Hadji Murád escaped his captors by leaping off a cliff, dragging a soldier with him to his death while surviving himself.

_Dramatic escape from Akhmet Khan's soldiers._

## Links

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