With Fire and Sword · Chapter
Chapter XXI explained
After Zagloba's escape, Bogun recovers from his wounds and furiously pursues him, attacking a garrison at Vassilyevka and torturing prisoners for information.
What happens
After Zagloba's escape, Bogun recovers from his wounds and furiously pursues him, attacking a garrison at Vassilyevka and torturing prisoners for information. Learning of Hmelnitski's victory at Jóltiya Vodi, Bogun splits his forces to hunt Zagloba and Helena. Meanwhile, Zagloba and Helena cross the Dnieper at Próhorovka amid a chaotic rebellion, witnessing brutal murders and barely escaping the mob. Zagloba resolves to continue fleeing despite the dangers.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Obsession
Bogun's obsessive pursuit of Helena drives him to rage, torture, and reckless attacks, prioritizing her capture over his own safety.
Violence and Cruelty
Graphic depictions of torture, massacre of nobles and Jews, and mob violence at Próhorovka highlight the brutality of the rebellion.
War and Rebellion
The chapter depicts the chaos of the Cossack uprising, with battles, peasant flight, and the collapse of order in the Ukraine.
Characters to notice
- Bogun
Recovers from wounds, rages, attacks Vassilyevka, tortures prisoners, and organizes pursuit of Zagloba and Helena.
- Pan Zagloba
Flees with Helena, disguises her as a minstrel boy, crosses the Dnieper at Próhorovka amid rebellion, and resolves to continue despite dangers.
- Princess Helena
Disguised as a minstrel boy, suffers from exhaustion and fear, witnesses atrocities, and is forced to drink vodka to avoid fever.
- Anton Tatarchuk
Bogun's essaul, advises on pursuit, tracks Zagloba to the Dnieper crossing, and leads a detachment toward Próhorovka.
- Bogdan Hmelnitski
Mentioned as victorious at Jóltiya Vodi, having captured the hetmans and ignited the Ukraine rebellion.
- Prince Yeremi Vishnyevetski
His forces are stationed near Lubni; his reputation causes fear among rebels and peasants.
- Pleshnyevski
Captured by Bogun, tortured, reveals Hmelnitski's victory and Zagloba's route, then hanged.
Key passages
“he fell into a rage, roared like a wild beast, stained his hands with blood from his own wounded head, and struck at the men with his dagger”
Bogun flew into a fury, bellowing like an animal, smearing blood from his head wound onto his hands, and slashing at his own men with a dagger.
Illustrates Bogun's uncontrollable rage after being tricked by Zagloba.
“The furious leader, as if life had become loathsome to him, fell upon these without hesitation, rushing first into the fire himself”
Bogun, seemingly disgusted with life, attacked the garrison recklessly, leading the charge into battle.
Shows Bogun's reckless desperation in pursuit of Helena.
“The peasants had taken unsparing vengeance for the harsh rule and oppression which they had endured from the Kurtsevichi.”
The peasants retaliated brutally for the Kurtsevichi's oppressive rule by burning their estate and killing the servants.
Highlights the theme of social class and revenge.
“Zagloba lost his head at first, for he was in a terrible position. Fortune had not favored him on the road”
Zagloba initially panicked due to his dire situation, as luck had been against him during his journey.
Shows Zagloba's vulnerability and resourcefulness under pressure.
“The maddened crowd hurled them into the river; and when they did not go to the bottom at once, they were pushed down with long sticks, together with their wives and children.”
The enraged mob threw the Jews into the river and used poles to push them under, including their families.
Depicts the horrific anti-Semitic violence during the rebellion.
