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Chapter 9
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Sofia Petrovna, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Uncertainty and Disbelief
Patriotism and Fanaticism
Pride, Status, and Moral Superiority
Loyalty, Political Allegiance, and Truth
Summary
Analysis
Sofia takes a leave of absence from work. Comrade Timofeyev is now the acting director, and he appoints Erna Semyonovna to take Sofia’s place while she’s gone. Sofia suggests that Natasha should be the one to fill her spot, since Erna Semyonovna makes so many mistakes, but Timofeyev doesn’t listen, and Sofia drops the matter—she doesn’t have the time or energy to think about such things. She spends every day waiting in line, hoping desperately to get more information about Kolya. When she’s not there, Alik or Natasha waits in her place.
One of the most difficult aspects of Sofia Petrovna’s current situation is that there isn’t much for her to do—except, that is, wait. Still, taking a leave of absence from work allows her to be as proactive as possible, even if this just means standing in line in the hopes of learning more information about Kolya’s case. The level of devotion she shows to standing in line each day spotlights how determined she is to lift herself out of the torturous uncertainty surrounding Kolya’s imprisonment.
Themes
Sofia has learned that it’s imperative to reserve a place in line each night at nearly midnight and that it’s best to stay there the entire time, though it’s possible to leave for two hours, as long as she returns for the “roll call.” It’s also helpful to wear extremely warm clothing, including a big scarf and felt boots. She has also learned that many of the people waiting with her in line end up receiving “travel vouchers,” which are actually orders for deportation.
When Sofia first saw her old friend, Mrs. Kiparisova, in the aftermath of Dr. Kiparisova’s arrest, she judged her for wearing unfashionable clothing. She specifically noted that Mrs. Kiparisova was wearing felt boots and that this seemed unnecessary, since the weather wasn’t that cold. Now, though, Sofia finds herself wearing felt boots, suggesting that she has undergone the same transformation as her friend. In the face of loss, it seems, things like fashion quickly become irrelevant—even to someone like Sofia, who likes to think of herself as a respectable person of high status.
Themes
In the absence of any new information, Sofia frequently asks Alik to recount exactly what happened on the night of Kolya’s arrest. They were both sleeping when a knock sounded on their door. In came the manager of their dormitory, the factory superintendent, and two law enforcement officials. They explained that Kolya was under arrest, but he wasn’t frightened. He obediently got dressed and consented to go with them, confident that it was all a mistake. They told him to bring extra underwear and a towel, but he didn’t listen—there was no point, he insisted, since he would be back within a day or two.
The fact that Kolya refused to bring extra underwear or a towel indicates that he had nothing to be guilty about. It also suggests that he still had faith in his government at the time of his arrest, apparently believing that the authorities would quickly recognize their own mistake and do what’s right by letting him out of prison. This outlook might seem somewhat naïve, but it’s mainly a sign of Kolya’s complete commitment to—and faith in—the Soviet Union.
Themes
Sofia sometimes wonders if something might have happened to cast suspicion on Kolya. Perhaps he had a misunderstanding with a supervisor, or maybe he became involved in a romantic relationship with a woman who set him up. But Alik insists that none of this happened. While standing in line one day, Sofia overhears a woman saying that there’s no use in waiting around for the government to release anyone—nobody ever returns from these prisons. Sofia strongly disagrees. The Soviet Union, she believes, doesn’t hold innocent people in prison. People like Kolya—that is, “Soviet patriots”—will certainly be released.
Despite Kolya’s unjust arrest, Sofia still believes that the Soviet government is just and reasonable. Again, her belief isn’t a sign of naivety or gullibility, but rather an indication of her strong political allegiance to the Soviet Union. What’s interesting, though, is that Sofia doesn’t seem to care that much about communist ideals, as evidenced by her lack of interest in politics. Her allegiance to the Communist Party, then, is more a matter of conformity than anything else.
Themes
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The newspapers publish a slew of confessions made by people who have been arrested. Sofia reads one of these confessions in an article while standing in line at the prison. The way the accused man talks about all the terrible acts of violence and treason he carried out against the Soviet Union enrages Sofia, who feels reaffirmed in her initial impulse to stay on her guard around the other people in line—these people, after all, are associated with dangerous criminals and saboteurs.
At this point in the novel, Sofia still wholeheartedly believes the propaganda surrounding her about the threat of terrorists and saboteurs. And it makes sense that she believes this propaganda, since the entire Soviet culture is saturated with stories designed to keep citizens like her in a state of fearful patriotism. What’s more, the general uncertainty surrounding the many arrests makes it hard for anyone to dispute the government’s claims about terrorism and sabotage.
Themes
