It's impossible to determine the full complexity of a character based on first impressions alone. 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, comical, carefree and on the verge of being annoying womanizer. This becomes a conflict for readers who want to see a character with humanity, especially during the stressful times of World War II. However, Kolya does not disappoint; he becomes a central figure in helping Lev come of age and venture out of his confines, later becoming his best friend. As the story progresses, a different side of Kolya emerges: trustworthy and caring, and very different from the original narcissistic character. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Throughout the novel, Kolya's character is revealed to show sensitive behavior and care for others, even in times of war. Kolya is presented as a brash and arrogant man who never notices how much his actions frighten the protagonist, Lev. His dangerous jokes seemed to worry Lev more than Kolya himself. “You murdered me,” Kolya tells a petrifying St. Petersburg black market seller after drinking, as if it were a game(50). Or his jokes addressed to the guards while he was in prison, which were of course followed by death threats against Kolya, in which he showed no reaction of despair. In fact, when the guards responded by insulting Kolya, he responded with a harsh tone, as if his image was more important than his life (26). Shy Lev would never risk his life just for a little laugh. Lev was amazed by Kolya's fearlessness and nonchalant actions. There are no two people more opposite; Kolya is a cheerful character, while Lev overvalues ​​every situation that comes his way. However, Lev soon realizes that Kolya's power and boldness are what made him valuable. The danger gave Kolya neither fear, nor excitement, nor the slightest rush of adrenaline. In fact, it was quite the opposite, the danger calmed Kolya (51st). These facts further distress Lev, who must embark on a life-and-death adventure with someone who was carefree during wartime. How could two people with completely different lifestyles work together? The possibility of them becoming friends would require development beyond their first encounters. For Lev and Kolya to bond and work together, Kolya would have to become more than his initial haughty character. Through his reckless behavior, Kolya performs continued acts of kindness, giving hope to readers and Lev. The first time Lev and Kolya meet in prison, they have their first exchange. Lev says: “It seemed like some kind of trap… But no offer of food could be refused, even the most unlikely one, so I reached out into the darkness and waited. A moment later, a sliver of something cold and greasy landed on my palm” (21). Having their first interaction with food makes the situation even more dramatic. At a time when people were starving due to war, Kolya feeds Lev, thus initiating a bond of trust and intimacy between them. This bond of trust would shape the novel as well as the relationship between Lev and Kolya. If there had not been trust between the two men, there would have been a lack of empathy. However, this wasn't the only time Kolya showed kindness to a stranger. After having.