Mr. Tough Guy?: Understanding Kolya's Character Elizabeth Patterson 11th Grade

It’s impossible to determine all the complexity of a character just based on first impressions. This is especially true for the character Kolya in David Benioff’s novel City of Thieves. On the surface, Kolya appears to be a fearless, comedic, womanizer who is careless and on the verge of being annoying. This becomes a conflict for readers who want to see a character with humanity, especially during the stressful times of WWII. However, Kolya does not disappoint; he becomes a central figure in helping Lev come of age and venture outside of his boundaries, later becoming his best friend. As the story progresses, a different side to Kolya appears: trustworthy and caring, and very different from the original narcissist character.

Throughout the novel, Kolya’s character unravels to show a sensitive demeanor and care for others, even in a time of war. Kolya is introduced as a brazen, arrogant man who never notices how his actions frighten the protagonist, Lev. His dangerous jokes seemed to worry Lev more than Kolya himself. “You murdered me,” Kolya declares to a petrifying vendor at the St. Petersburg blackmarket after drinking, as if it was a game(50). Or his jokes to the guards while he is in prison, which was of course followed by...