Barbara (Baśka) Jeziorkowska (later Wołodyjowska) is a fictional character of the novel ''

Fire in the Steppe ''Pan Michael'' ( pl, Pan Wołodyjowski; also translated into English as ''Sir Michael'' and ''Colonel Wolodyjowski''; literally, ''Sir Wołodyjowski'') is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1887. It is the ...

'' by

Henryk Sienkiewicz Henryk Adam Aleksander Pius Sienkiewicz ( , ; 5 May 1846 – 15 November 1916), also known by the pseudonym Litwos (), was a Polish writer, novelist, journalist and Nobel Prize laureate. He is best remembered for his historical novels, especi ...

. She is the main female protagonist, an orphan who marries

Michał Wołodyjowski Jerzy Michał Wołodyjowski () is a fictional Polish hero in Henryk Sienkiewicz's Trilogy: ''With Fire and Sword'', ''The Deluge'' and ''Pan Wołodyjowski''. Michał Wołodyjowski is partly based on the historic figure, Colonel , a Polish noble ...

. In Jerzy Hoffman's 1969 film adaptation, Barbara is portrayed by

Magdalena Zawadzka Magdalena Zawadzka (born 29 October 1944) is a Polish stage and film actress. She is the wife of actor Gustaw Holoubek and the mother of cinematographer Jan Holoubek. She gained wide popularity after the 1968 film ''Colonel Wolodyjowski (film), C ...

Story

Date of Barbara Jeziorkowska's birth is unknown. At the beginning of the novel she was probably about 18 years old. Barbara was an orphan in the care of

stolnik Pantler (, , russian: сто́льник, ) was a court office in Lithuania, Poland, and Russia, responsible for serving the royal table, then an honorary court title and a district office. Stolnik in Crown of Poland In the Crown of Poland und ...

Makowiecki, Michał Wołodyjowski's brother-in-law. In 1668 she arrived (together with Krystyna Drohojowska) to Warsaw and stopped in Ketling's house. She met Michał Wołodyjowski then and fell in love with him. Although Zagłoba tried to arrange their marriage, Wołodyjowski soon proposed to Krystyna. The girl, however, was in love with his friend, Ketling. When Wołodyjowski found out, he let them be together. Barbara then told Wołodyjowski that she loved him and they married. Basia i Azja

In 1672 Barbara and her husband went to Chreptiów, near

Kamianets-Podilskyi Kamianets-Podilskyi ( uk, Ка́м'яне́ць-Поді́льський, russian: Каменец-Подольский, Kamenets-Podolskiy, pl, Kamieniec Podolski, ro, Camenița, yi, קאַמענעץ־פּאָדאָלסק / קאַמעניץ, ...

. They met there

Azja Azja (also Azja, son of Tuhaj-Bej) is a fictional character in the novel ''Fire in the Steppe'' by Henryk Sienkiewicz. He is an antagonist and the rival of Michał Wołodyjowski. He's a Tatar who wants to kidnap Barbara Jeziorkowska, settle so ...

, a

Tartar Tartar may refer to: Places * Tartar (river), a river in Azerbaijan * Tartar, Switzerland, a village in the Grisons * Tərtər, capital of Tartar District, Azerbaijan * Tartar District, Azerbaijan * Tartar Island, South Shetland Islands, Ant ...

who served Poland as a soldier. The man fell in love with Barbara. She was unaware of it, she thought that he wanted to marry Ewa Nowowiejska. Azja tried to abduct Barbara but he failed. She managed to flee on a horse. She wandered around for a few days and eventually she got to Chreptiów. She was exhausted and sick, but recovered. Barbara went to Kamianets-Podilskyi along with Wołodyjowski, Krystyna and Ketling. The city was attacked by

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

army. When the city surrendered, Wołodyjowski and Ketling blew themselves up.

Description

Barbara is a young, petite girl. She's got light short hair and pretty, ruddy face. She is lively, impulsive and confident. She's not afraid to tell Wołodyjowski that she loves him. Baśka is also good-natured, she takes care of Wołodyjowski's soldiers. She is innocent and sometimes even a little childish. She doesn't see that Azja desires her, she believes that he's in love with Ewa Nowowiejska and wants to arrange their marriage. She shows a lot of courage when Azja tries to abduct her - she fights him. Barbara is a contradiction to Krystyna Drohojowska both in personality and appearance.

References

* Sienkiewicz's Trilogy Characters in novels of the 19th century Fictional Polish people Literary characters introduced in 1884 Orphan characters in literature {{Novel-char-stub