The Goldfinch

by

Donna Tartt

Boris Pavlikovsky Character Analysis

Boris is the second most important character in the novel after Theo. He is a vivacious, unique, and in many ways comic character, though his friendship with Theo is one of the most important parts of the novel. Born to Polish and Ukrainian parents who were both alcoholics, Boris lost his mother as a child but does not claim to feel sadness about it. He also doesn’t seem to mind that his father, Mr. Pavlikovsky, is neglectful and beats him. Indeed, Boris has a remarkably tough, resilient attitude. He embraces life in a bold, reckless, full-throttle manner, encouraging Theo to drink, experiment with drugs, and shoplift. However, he is also a very kind, caring force in Theo’s life. He comforts Theo when he is having nightmares about the terrorist attack and stops him when he tries to put his suicidal thoughts into action. After Theo confesses to stealing The Goldfinch when he is blackout drunk, Boris steals it from him, replacing the painting with his own Civics Workbook (which means that Theo doesn’t find out about the theft until almost ten years later). After having early success as a teenage drug dealer, Boris starts a “business” in the criminal underworld, getting his start through using The Goldfinch as collateral. Despite Boris’ seemingly lose morals, he is actually a deeply ethical person who remains loyal to Theo even after they lose touch for near to a decade. When Boris finds Theo again, he insists on getting the painting back. In doing so, he inadvertently triggers one of the biggest recoveries of stolen art in history. This is comic because, despite being an intelligent person with expensive tastes, Boris has very little interest in art and other aspects of “high” culture.

Boris Pavlikovsky Quotes in The Goldfinch

The The Goldfinch quotes below are all either spoken by Boris Pavlikovsky or refer to Boris Pavlikovsky. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Value of Art and Beauty Theme Icon
).
Part 2, Chapter 5 Quotes

Before Boris, I had borne my solitude stoically enough, without realizing quite how alone I was. And I suppose if either of us had lived in an even halfway normal household, with curfews and chores and adult supervision, we wouldn’t have become quite so inseparable, so fast, but almost from that day were together all the time, scrounging our meals and sharing what money we had.

Related Characters: Theo Decker (speaker), Boris Pavlikovsky
Page Number: 245
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2, Chapter 6 Quotes

Well, kid, guess what? I’ve been around the track a few times—I do know. He's going to end up in jail by the time he’s eighteen, that one, an dollars to doughnuts you’ll be right there with him.

Related Characters: Xandra (speaker), Theo Decker, Boris Pavlikovsky
Page Number: 368
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 4, Chapter 10 Quotes

I did know. Because if possible to paint fakes that look like that? Las Vegas would be the most beautiful city in the history of earth! Anyway—so funny! Here I am, so proudly teaching you to steal apples and candy from the magazine, while you have stolen world masterpiece of art.

Related Characters: Boris Pavlikovsky (speaker), Theo Decker
Related Symbols: The Goldfinch, Las Vegas
Page Number: 556
Explanation and Analysis:

Because this is closed circle, you understand? Horst is right on the money about that. No one is going to buy this painting. Impossible to sell. But—black market, barter currency? Can be traded back and forth forever! Valuable, portable. Hotel rooms—going back and forth. Drugs, arms, girls, cash—whatever you like.

Related Characters: Boris Pavlikovsky (speaker), Theo Decker, Horst
Related Symbols: The Goldfinch
Page Number: 586
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 5, Chapter 12 Quotes

Because—they are saying, ‘one of great art recoveries of history.’ And this is the part I hoped would please you—maybe not who knows, but I hoped. Museum masterworks, returned to public ownership! Stewardship of cultural treasure! Great joy! All the angels are singing! But it would never have happened, if not for you.

Related Characters: Boris Pavlikovsky (speaker), Theo Decker
Related Symbols: The Goldfinch
Page Number: 741
Explanation and Analysis:

Good doesn’t always follow from good deeds, nor bad deeds result from bad, does it? Even the wise and good cannot see the end of all actions. Scary idea!

Related Characters: Boris Pavlikovsky (speaker)
Page Number: 745
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Goldfinch LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Goldfinch PDF

Boris Pavlikovsky Quotes in The Goldfinch

The The Goldfinch quotes below are all either spoken by Boris Pavlikovsky or refer to Boris Pavlikovsky. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Value of Art and Beauty Theme Icon
).
Part 2, Chapter 5 Quotes

Before Boris, I had borne my solitude stoically enough, without realizing quite how alone I was. And I suppose if either of us had lived in an even halfway normal household, with curfews and chores and adult supervision, we wouldn’t have become quite so inseparable, so fast, but almost from that day were together all the time, scrounging our meals and sharing what money we had.

Related Characters: Theo Decker (speaker), Boris Pavlikovsky
Page Number: 245
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2, Chapter 6 Quotes

Well, kid, guess what? I’ve been around the track a few times—I do know. He's going to end up in jail by the time he’s eighteen, that one, an dollars to doughnuts you’ll be right there with him.

Related Characters: Xandra (speaker), Theo Decker, Boris Pavlikovsky
Page Number: 368
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 4, Chapter 10 Quotes

I did know. Because if possible to paint fakes that look like that? Las Vegas would be the most beautiful city in the history of earth! Anyway—so funny! Here I am, so proudly teaching you to steal apples and candy from the magazine, while you have stolen world masterpiece of art.

Related Characters: Boris Pavlikovsky (speaker), Theo Decker
Related Symbols: The Goldfinch, Las Vegas
Page Number: 556
Explanation and Analysis:

Because this is closed circle, you understand? Horst is right on the money about that. No one is going to buy this painting. Impossible to sell. But—black market, barter currency? Can be traded back and forth forever! Valuable, portable. Hotel rooms—going back and forth. Drugs, arms, girls, cash—whatever you like.

Related Characters: Boris Pavlikovsky (speaker), Theo Decker, Horst
Related Symbols: The Goldfinch
Page Number: 586
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 5, Chapter 12 Quotes

Because—they are saying, ‘one of great art recoveries of history.’ And this is the part I hoped would please you—maybe not who knows, but I hoped. Museum masterworks, returned to public ownership! Stewardship of cultural treasure! Great joy! All the angels are singing! But it would never have happened, if not for you.

Related Characters: Boris Pavlikovsky (speaker), Theo Decker
Related Symbols: The Goldfinch
Page Number: 741
Explanation and Analysis:

Good doesn’t always follow from good deeds, nor bad deeds result from bad, does it? Even the wise and good cannot see the end of all actions. Scary idea!

Related Characters: Boris Pavlikovsky (speaker)
Page Number: 745
Explanation and Analysis: