Taras Bulba

Jew

The Jew is often a figure of conflict and contempt for Taras Bulba, representing an adversarial ethnic and religious tension.

Andrii

Andrii is the younger son of Taras Bulba, who betrays his father and his people for love of a Polish woman.

Ostap

Ostap is the elder son of Taras Bulba, a loyal Cossack who dies a heroic death, deeply mourned by his father.

Yankel

Taras Bulba trusts Yankel as a reliable ally and often relies on his help during military campaigns.

Father Kondrat

Father Kondrat is a priest and close companion of Taras Bulba, sharing in the Cossack brotherhood.

Jew

The Jew is often a figure of conflict and contempt for Taras Bulba, representing an adversarial ethnic and religious tension.

Andrii

Andrii is the younger son of Taras Bulba, who betrays his father and his people for love of a Polish woman.

Father Kondrat

Father Kondrat is a priest and close companion of Taras Bulba, sharing in the Cossack brotherhood.

Ostap

Ostap is the elder son of Taras Bulba, a loyal Cossack who dies a heroic death, deeply mourned by his father.

Yankel

Taras Bulba trusts Yankel as a reliable ally and often relies on his help during military campaigns.

Jew

The Jew is often a figure of conflict and contempt for Taras Bulba, representing an adversarial ethnic and religious tension.

Ostap

Ostap is the elder son of Taras Bulba, a loyal Cossack who dies a heroic death, deeply mourned by his father.

Taras Bulba

The fierce Cossack colonel who drives the plot, from deciding his sons' fate to leading the campaign against the Poles.

I

Headstrong Cossack who decides to take his sons to war, dismissing domestic life.

II

Rides in silence, reflecting on his youth and fallen comrades; he counsels his sons and leads the journey toward the Setch.

III

Plots to stir up the Setch for war and orchestrates the removal of the Koschevoi.

IV

Conspires with the Koschevoi to incite the Cossacks, spares the Jew Yankel, and supports the decision to march on Poland.

V

Observes Andrii's secret departure and warns him against women, then feigns sleep.

VI

Mentioned indirectly as the father who will curse the day his son was born to dishonor him.

VII

Enraged by the news of Andrii's betrayal; leads his men in battle and later broods over his son's treachery.

VIII

Argues passionately for staying to rescue Cossack prisoners from the Poles, invoking comradeship and Cossack honor.

IX

Delivers a passionate speech about brotherhood, leads the battle, and kills his son Andrii for treason.

Taras's Grief and the Journey to Warsaw

Grieving for Ostap, seeks Yankel's help to go to Warsaw, later wounded and delirious, nursed by Tovkatch.

XI

Disguised in a brick cart, Taras negotiates with Jews for Ostap's escape, then witnesses Ostap's execution, responding to his son's final cry before disappearing.

XII

Leads a massive Cossack army, refuses peace, conducts brutal revenge raids, and is captured and burned alive.