Significance of Literary Devices in Child 44

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In the enthralling novel Child 44, wrote by Tom Rob Smith, the powerful and cold country of USSR, under the rule of Joseph Stalin, is undergoing significant changes; this new communist society enforces the strict policy that “there is no crime”. In the meantime, a war hero and MGB member, Leo Demidov, is set out by his superiors to cover up, what is known to be a railway accident; when in reality, it was a certain murder. Conversely, when more bodies are found dead and the same imprints are left; their mouths stuffed with tree bark and their stomachs expurgated from their bodies, Leo cannot help himself but onset to believe that there is a cold hearted murderer travelling around the Soviet Union and killing innocent individuals. Although this may be true, this opposes Stalin’s ideology, leaving Leo in a dreadful position with no other choice, but to go head to head with the massive and authoritative Soviet Union. Tom Rob Smith’s detailed description of the Soviet Union, beautiful portrayal of the main characters and the symbolism hidden behind every chapter, demonstrates all the fear and critical flaws that we were incorporated into the society under the rule of Stalin.
Smith sets the story in the time of Stalin’s pitiless Soviet Union, in the archaic 1950’s. Where the rule of the totalitarian regime is publicized as a new commencement for the whole nation, while in reality, the government and the communist party is hiding its true identity behind the closed doors of the Ministry of State Security; taking advantage of these services to create fear, in attempt to shape a perfect communist society, where crime and hate would become extinct words.
There is no crime. Few people believed this absolutely. There were blemishes: this...

... middle of paper ...

...he rule of Stalin. The characterization of Raisa, as described in the novel, symbolizes the societies’ feelings towards all state officers, fear and terror. The symbolism hidden behind the imprints at the scenes of crimes is merely a hint of the big flaws present in the communist society, which creates the perfect environment for a serial killer to walk around innocently.
“You cannot make a revolution with silk gloves.”
-Joseph Stalin

Works Cited

"hackwriters.com - Review of Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith." hackwriters.com - Review of Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. .
"Joseph Stalin quote." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. .

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