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Chapter 9
Themes
and Colors
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.
Active
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.
Active
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.
Active
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.
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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.
