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Chapter 3
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
It has already been three years since Sofia started at the office. She has secured a raise, and she’s grown quite proud of Kolya, who is tall, handsome, and intelligent. But her pride in him only makes her feel guilty that he doesn’t have his own place to stay. He’s an adult now and should have his own room, but they can’t afford a bigger place. While Sofia complains to Natasha one day about how Kolya should have his own space, Natasha points out in a nervous voice that she herself lives alone. She trails off, and when Sofia asks what her point is, Natasha abandons the topic altogether.
It’s apparent by Natasha’s comment in this moment that she has romantic feelings for Kolya, but Sofia doesn’t even consider the possibility. She’s extremely proud of her son and thinks very highly of him, so it’s unlikely that she would want him to date Natasha, who she thinks is pasty and unattractive. It doesn’t even occur to her, then, that Kolya and Natasha would ever be a suitable match.
Themes
The issue of finding Kolya his own place to stay becomes a moot point when both Kolya and Alik receive word that they, as honor students, are being sent to an engineering plant in the city of Sverdlovsk as part of a “labor allotment.” The plant is in need of engineers, so their school has arranged for them to fill this need while completing their studies via mail. Sofia is worried about sending Kolya off on his own, but Alik promises to take care of him. She sees them both to the train station and then walks home with teary eyes.
It’s hard for Sofia to say goodbye to her son, but she can—at the very least—be proud that he’s been chosen to carry out an important job. For someone who views her own working life as a meaningful contribution to society, she undoubtedly views Kolya’s placement in the factory as a good opportunity for him to become a model Soviet citizen—that is, a citizen of whom she can be proud.
Themes
