The Russian Horse: Vitality, Personality, and Politics

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Horses in Russia were necessary for so many things, it's no wonder they were presented in literature so often. They have a significant presence as far as the story line is concerned, due to the fact that most traveling is done with a horse or horses, horses are used for work, and, in Kasbich's case, they act as friends who will never share your secrets. Their significant presence hence lends itself to an even greater role. Since they were already an integral part of the tale, Russian authors gave more importance to their roles, and it only makes sense for horses to act as symbols and metaphors for all sorts of things, such as livelihood, an important character's personality, or allusions to the current events of Russia.

In A Hero of Our Time, Mikhail Lermontov uses the horse as a symbol for two different things. In particular, Kasbich's horse, Karagyoz, is particularly important to him. Kasbich is a thief known throughout the land. He is known for his cunning and his horse, the fastest known in his parts, which gave rise to his fame. He owns the sleekest, most loyal animal known in the land, and, while he has Karagyoz, he is in his prime.

No one can catch him or out run him. Kasbich is undefeatable, because the wonderful horse lends him its power. When Asamat steals the horse from Kasbich, Kasbich is crushed. He grieves as though he had lost a loved one, which he had. But he lost much more than just a beloved friend. He and his horse were not just close companions; the horse was his strength, his speed, and his cunning. Karagyoz, while they were together, gave Kasbich strength and vitality, but when the horse was gone, he was nothing.

Kasbich's youthful power left with his horse, and he could not outrun e...

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...ked at from the standpoint of allusion to the Russian government attempting to understate the problems. Throughout many nations' histories, problems made by the government have been ignored or covered up, and it seems as though the woman is attempting to turn her back on the problems of the serfs in order to maintain a happy life. Ignorance is bliss, in this case.

From youthfulness, to abusiveness, to persecution of the already downtrodden, horses in literature are able to reveal many things to us. They symbolize and give vitality, through their importance, love, and companionship; they show inner personality of their owners and the dreadful interpersonal reactions and relationships, and they even teach us things about history. Horses truly were not just important to the Russian population, but still remain important to us, through their use in literature.

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