Hadji Murád · Chapter
XXI explained
Life in the Chechen forts continues with routine alarms and minor skirmishes.
What happens
Life in the Chechen forts continues with routine alarms and minor skirmishes. A new commander, Prince Baryátinsky, arrives and organizes a detachment for an expedition. A farewell dinner is held for General Kozlóvsky, where emotional speeches are made. Butler visits the camp, enjoys the festivities, but succumbs to gambling and loses heavily, leading to financial distress.
Themes in this chapter
The Nature of War and Violence
The chapter contrasts the mundane routine of fort life with the emotional farewell dinner and Butler's personal crisis, showing war's varied impacts.
Deception and Mistrust
Butler's gambling addiction and broken promises to his brother reveal self-deception and the mistrust it breeds among comrades.
Individual vs. State Power
The soldiers' resentment of extra duties to protect Márya Vasílevna illustrates tension between individual soldiers' welfare and the state's priorities.
Characters to notice
- Butler
Visits the camp, attends the farewell dinner, and loses heavily at cards, leading to debt and shame.
- Poltorátsky
Hosts Butler in his tent, warns about Kozlóvsky's speech, and avoids meeting Butler's eye after his gambling loss.
- Prince Vorontsóv
Hosts the farewell dinner for Kozlóvsky, introduces Butler to Baryátinsky.
- Márya Vasílevna
Visits the camp and stays overnight; her presence causes resentment among soldiers due to extra night ambushes.
- Prince Baryátinsky
New commander of the left flank, organizes the detachment, and gives a speech at the farewell dinner.
- Kozlóvsky
Outgoing commander of the left flank, delivers an emotional and stammering farewell speech.
- Márya Dmítrievna
Guesses Butler's gambling loss from his demeanor and reproaches the Major.
Key passages
“How every reward I have received … how all the benefits showered on me by the great generosity of our sovereign the Emperor … how all my position—how my good name … how everything decidedly … how … how I am indebted to you for it, to you alone, my friends!”
Kozlóvsky expresses that all his rewards, benefits, position, and reputation are due to the officers' support, not just the Emperor's generosity.
Kozlóvsky's emotional farewell speech emphasizes his gratitude and dependence on his comrades.
“He need only have refrained from playing, and gone to the Vorontsóvs who had invited him, and all would have been well, thought he; but now it was not only not well, but terrible.”
Butler regrets not avoiding the card game and attending the Vorontsóvs' invitation instead, as his gambling loss has made his situation dire.
Butler's self-blame highlights his poor decision-making and the consequences of his gambling addiction.