Sofia Petrovna Analysis

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Lydia Chekovskaya wrote about Sofia Petrovna and the transformation she had undergone to closely reflect the state of mind and changes experienced by citizens of the Soviet Union during that time. As people began to suffer from the purges and other hardships due to Stalin’s incompetence, their minds and logic, much like Sofia Petrovna’s, became impaired leading them to try their best to rationalize Stalin’s actions. They believed in the party wholeheartedly, but when they finally realized the wrongdoing of the party, it was far too late. Before Sofia Petrovna truly experienced the moral and logical conflict in regards to the purges, she was a sympathizer of the party. She raised her son, Kolya, to lead a life that would make the party leaders proud. Sofia Petrovna stated in that her son was a “loyal Komsomol member,” and she felt “tenderness and fear” when she looked at him, but also pride (p. 19). …show more content…

She found out from Kiparisiva that the government was letting innocent people out. This further convinced her to continue to reside her faith in the party because they must have realized their mistake. Many Soviet citizens became excited that there was a chance that their loved ones would be released and resided some faith in that unlikely idea. Although some were released, it was a very small number wand the event was just to gain back support for the government. Sofia Petrovna finally received a frightening letter in which Kolya beilieved he “[wouldn’t] last [there] long” and that she “must do something quick” to save him (p. 107). Following the letter she finds out that Kiparisiva is being deported and decided to burn the letter from Kolya. She burnt the letter as a last resort to remain true to the idea that the party will release him because she cannot do anything. It was her only option since she was alone and the party was her only chance at living a normal life

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