Taras Bulba Characterization Essay (Literature & Language Essay)

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Taras Bulba: Characterization Assignment
According to Summerfield, the prolonged agonies and cries of the people is normal during an era of war. War is also a reason for emotional battles that every individual affected by this event has always faced (1106-1107). On the other hand, Lacina disclosed that these unforgettable happenings are not of natural occurrence and are formed with different terror scales. These differences led to the hundreds of wars that have transpired even before our knowledge (287). As years pass by, wars are continuously becoming a focal point for writing by famous writers such as Nikolai Gogol. His writing style is influenced by romantic historicism, where the focus is the distinctiveness of their nations and their past. Some of his famous works under romantic historicism are the stories about his chosen subjects, the Ukrainian Cossacks (Bahrij-Pikulyk 30). His perspective and conviction towards the Russian Monarchy are present and shown in every of his written works. One work that was the very image of his conviction, a story depicting what he ought to see as a ‘free Cossack spirit,’ is the story of a father and his sons, the ‘Taras Bulba’ (Sethi 28). Taras Bulba's story is about a Cossack father and is excited about welcoming his two sons who just came back home after studying in Kyiv. The story's conflict unfolds when these three went on their journey to Sich and become a Cossack. They face different battles and experience love but only receive death as payment for their actions (Gogol). The protagonist of the story is Taras Bulba, a Cossack and two young men, namely Ostap and Andre. This story unfolds the protagonist's personality and how his surroundings perceive him as he continues his journey in the story.
In the story, the writer views Taras Bulba as an individual with a personality who prefers fists over words. Peace talks are not applicable for him but rather war and mayhem. At the same time, he is a person who is characterized as a leader and an affectionate father. According to the narration in Gogol's story, “Such an idle life was not to his mind; he wanted active employment” (49). This particular line shows Taras's personality that he is a restless person. He cannot withstand short peace, so he presents the idea of invading another country in the story. Another narration that describes Taras is:
But he would no doubt have repeated this feat for the fifth time, had not his father given him a solemn assurance that he would keep him at monastic work for twenty years, and sworn in advance that he should never behold Zaporozhe all his life long unless he learned all the sciences taught in the academy (Gogol 31).
Taras is shown as a father who wanted his child to learn knowledge. Even if he wanted to make them Cossacks fast enough, he still pushed his son to continue learning. Ostap is then inspired to finish his studies and continued to learn in the academy. Gogol uses an indirect characterization in this narrations as he would let the readers discern the real personality of Taras (Bernardo 1). Again, Gogol is also describing Taras as, “Taras was one of the bands of old-fashioned leaders; he was bo...