Vassily Buslayev
Vassily Buslayev is a Novgorod character of the Bogatyr epics. According to S.A. Azbelev there are 53 Bogatyr epics, Vassily is the protagonist of three, numbers 40, 41 and 42: “Vassily Buslayev and the People of Novgorod”, “Vassily Buslayev's Journey” and “The Death of Vassily Buslayev.”
Image of Vassily in the Bogatyr epics
Vassily Buslayev - a Novgorod hero, representing the ideal youthful and boundless prowess. He is one of the most famous characters of folklore, bearing the name Vassily.
From a young age Vassily showed no constraint; he always did as he pleased, without regard to consequences. Antagonizing the majority of Novgorod, he gathered a group of like minded daredevils to rage more and more. Only his mother had a slight power over him. Finally at a feast Vassily became drunk and belligerent and bets that he and his group could beat up all of the men of Novgorod. As the fight began, it quickly became clear that Vassily's wager was to be seen through. Only his mother's intervention was able to save the men of Novgorod.
Later, when Vassily was older, feeling the weight of his sins, made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to repent. However, the journey did not change his character and he defiantly violates all prohibitions and dies on his return in the most absurd way trying once again to prove his prowess.
Most pre-revolution researchers are in favor that Vassily was intended to represent the might of Novgorod and its people. [1] [2]