Zuleikha

Main Characters and Their Development

• Zuleikha Valieva - the main protagonist of the novel, a Tatar peasant woman who undergoes numerous trials, starting with dispossession and exile to Siberia. At the beginning of the book, she is a submissive and oppressed wife, but as the plot develops, she becomes a strong and independent woman, capable of facing hardships and finding the strength to survive and care for others.
• Murtaza Valiev - Zuleikha's husband, a cruel and tyrannical man who dies at the beginning of the book. His death becomes a turning point in Zuleikha's life, freeing her from tyranny but also leaving her without protection and support.
• Ivan Ignatov - the convoy leader who escorts Zuleikha and other exiles to Siberia. Initially, he seems cruel and heartless, but gradually reveals himself as a complex and contradictory character, capable of compassion and love. His relationship with Zuleikha goes through many stages, from hostility to mutual respect and affection.
• Volkodav - one of the exiles, a former White Guard officer who becomes a friend and protector of Zuleikha. His character evolves from a bitter and desperate man to someone who finds the strength for friendship and support of others.
• Lieutenant Blum - a German doctor also exiled to Siberia. He is intelligent and educated, but his inner demons and guilt over the past make him a complex and layered character. His relationships with Zuleikha and other exiles help him find redemption and inner peace.