Sofia Petrovna 15-21
pg. 15 — Valya
The daughter of the accountant who is the neighbor of Sofia Petrovna. Depicted as a little expressive and vulgar.
pg. 15 — Summer Garden
The Summer Garden is park located on an island between the Fontanka River and the Neva River, near modern-day St. Petersburg. It was originally built in 1704, commissioned by Peter the Great of Russia, and is known as one of the most beautiful and majestic garden in all of Russia.
pg. 16 — Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is a body of water that borders Finland, Estonia, and Russia. It is the eastern-most part of the Baltic Sea. Many capital cities are located on the shores of this gulf, including St. Petersburg (Russia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Helsinki (Finland). An important trade/travel route.
pg. 17 — Faust (Opera)
A famous 5-act opera written by Charles Gounod, based-off the writings by Carré, similarly titled Faust et Marguerite. This opera follows an aging-scholar and philosopher named Faust, living in Germany in the 16th-century. It starts with Faust attempting to commit suicide due to his failure as a scholar and the mistakes that drove his love (Marguerite) away, but Faust's last words of cursing hope and embracing hell spawns a demon (Méphistophélès), who gives him an elixir of youth in exchange for eventually transcending to hell. The elixir transforms the old scholar back into a handsome young man. With the newfound determination, the demon and Faust set off to find Marguerite. Upon finding her near the city gates, the spiteful demon mischievously messes with Marguerite and her brother (Valentin), who tries to kill the demon. When his sword strikes Méphistophélès, it shatters into tiny fragments, and in desperation, Valentin holds up his hilt, which depicts a cross, to defend himself. Now knowing that Méphistophélès is a demon, Valentin tries to fight, but is interrupted by the entrance of Faust, who professes his love to Marguerite. However, all was not well, as Marguerite has another suitor, Siébel, a friend of Valentin. Though Marguerite declines Faust's love, Faust and Siébel both continues to vie for her love.
Faust, Siébel, and Marguerite then meet each other outside her doorway, in which both Siébel and Faust tries to win her over with gifts. Siébel leaves flowers on her doorstep, while Faust asked Méphistophélès for help in finding a gift. Méphistophélès eventually spawns a opulent box filled with jewels that compliments Marguerite's beauty, and leaves it on her doorsteps as well. At this point, it's clear that Méphistophélès's dark magic is working on seducing Marguerite. After some time has passed, people close to Marguerite realizes that she is now pregnant with Faust's child, who had apparently abandoned her. When Valentin finds out, he challenges Faust to a duel, and with the help of Méphistophélès, Faust kills Valentin. Marguerite's brother blames and curses Marguerite with his dying breath, hoping she goes to hell. Suddenly panicked, Marguerite tries to speed to a chapel to pray, but is stopped by Méphistophélès and his band of demons, to which, they cursed her. Marguerite ends up killing her own child upon birth.
At the gallows, Marguerite is now facing her death sentence. Faust, who is still accompanied by Méphistophélès, tries to ask Marguerite for permission to save her from the hangman. Marguerite declines, preferring to put her trust and faith into the hands of God and his Angels. She takes one look at Faust, asks why his hands looked bloody, and pushes Faust away. Suddenly, Angels descend from the sky and bells start chiming, and Marguerite's soul ascends to the heavens. The angels drive off Méphistophélès while Faust watches helplessly on barren ground, watching his love transcend into the heavens.
This was one of the most beloved opera ever produced by Gounod. It dealt with morality, love, and religion. The message of this opera may be to put trust and faith in a God above, which parallels the mind of Sofia Petrovna, who blindly trusted the USSR government, even as her friends were getting arrested. This opera being her favorite may be a foreshadow to later parts of the book, where she receives a choice between burning the important letter from her imprisoned son, or to act on it, much like how Marguerite was given a choice between being saved with the Demon's powers, or blindly put her faith in the Gods above. The theme of hopelessness is also paralleled between Faust and Sofia Petrovna, where both Marguerite and Sofia were stuck in a helpless situation. In Marguerite's case, she was to be executed and for Sofia, she was to not see her son again. Both of them were left in a state of despair and grief, with only divine intervention (the angels coming down from the heavens) and fate (with Sofia hoping that not responding and letting her son be would give him the best choice of survival) being the only source of "hope" for them.
pg. 17 — Fascists
Fascism is an extreme, far-right, ultra-nationalistic and authoritarian form of government, that often comes with heavy suppression of opposition and dictatorial powers. It first rose to prominence in Italy during WWI, and was the form of government adopted by Italy during WWII, when Benito Mussolini rose to power.
pg. 17 — Mussolini
Benito Mussolini was a dictator who ruled over Italy during WWII. He rose to power through a coup that he launched when he was serving as Prime Minister in Italy, and ruled Italy with an authoritarian grip, changing Italy into a highly militaristic and fascist government. Mussolini's rise to power inspired many totalitarians to look up to him, including Adolf Hitler in Germany. Mussolini later signed an agreement with Germany and Japan to form the Axis Powers during WWII, but was later deposed and executed in 1945 when the population of Italy fought back against him.
pg. 17 — Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang Kai-Shek (Jiang Jieshi), was a Chinese Nationalist leader and a lieutenant of Sun Yat-sen, who overthrew the old Chinese government formed the Republic of China. Chiang was a military leader who unified China against the Japanese as they colonized and razed China during the Sino-Japanese War and WWII as China was underequipped against a vastly superior military. He was noted and was one of the leaders of the Allied Powers along with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. However, upon the end of WWII, he was overthrown by the Communist Party in China, led by Mao Ze-dong. Chiang and his government then fled to Taiwan and set-up their base of operations there, imposing martial law (called White Terror), which lasted over 38 years, imprisoned 140,000 civilians, and executed thousands due to the growing fears of Communism. Chiang is considered a very controversial figure, a hero for some as he unified China against Japanese Imperialism, and a villain for others, as he imposed harsh martial laws that killed many.
pg. 18 — The Green Hat (book)
The Green Hat is a tragic novel written by Michael Arlen, surrounding a girl who faced many tragedies in her life. The novel's is set directly after WWI in England and follows a maiden named Iris Storm, who lost two husbands shortly after both marriages. In the book, she seduces her childhood bestfriend, Napier Harpenden, who unfortunately for Iris, is about to get married. In the past, Iris's first husband commits suicide on their wedding night when he finds out she wasn't "pure" and didn't keep her virginity intact; her second husband is murdered by a group of Irishman as a hit. She then begins to seduce and have numerous affairs, making her quite famous in England. We later learn that Venice, now Napier's wife, finds out about Napier and Iris's unfaithfulness, and is determined to face Napier's father. It is at this point, where the readers of this book is given more clarity to Iris's life: Iris's first husband has actually contracted syphilis on their wedding day and not wanting to infect her, he commits suicide, screaming "for purity." Not wanting to tarnish her beloved husband's name, Iris tells everyone that she is the person who isn't pure, sacrificing her good reputation to save his. As a result, people around her think of her as a good-for-nothing woman. As Iris realizes that Venice found out about her love for Napier, she commits suicide in order to save Venice and Napier's relationship, knowing that they are expecting a child.
pg. 18 — Hearts of Three (book)
Hearts of Three was a novel published by Jack London. It is a purely adventure story that follows the life of Francis Morgan, the son of an extremely successful Wall-Street maven. When his father's partner suggests that he and Francis take a trip to Central America together to search for the Morgan Family's Legendary Lost Treasure, Francis thought it was a fantastic idea and goes along. He later reunites with a long-lost cousin, and together, they plan on a wild adventure to find this treasure.
pg. 18 — Eight of March (Women’s Day)
Originally begun as a holiday in the USSR to celebrate the lives of women, it became an international holiday as more and more countries started to adapt it into their cultures. Women's Day celebrates the anniversary in which women gained suffrage in USSR, on March 8, 1917. What started off as a communist holiday, became a symbol for feminism and a symbol for the fight for women's rights in the later generations.
pg. 19 — Vinnitsa
Vinnitsa is a city located in modern-day Ukraine. This city has changed greatly, from being under Polish control during the Middle Ages, to being part of the Russian Empire. Vinnitsa has witnessed many atrocities, including being the site for massacres, led by Stalin, as well as a site for the Holocaust during Nazi occupation.
pg. 20 — Uralmash (Ural Engineering Works)
A machinery company that still runs today. Started during the USSR, Uralmash first produced equipment for mining and metalworks, mostly designed by independent designers. However, when WWII reached the USSR, it quickly shifted its gears to produce military equipment, including armored plates, ammunitions, tanks, etc. After the war, it went back to producing mining equipments and machinery.
pg. 20 — Sverdlovsk
Referring to Sverdlovsk Oblast, a federal area located on the Western Siberian Plains and on the eastern slopes of the Middle and North Urals. This area of Russia was primarily utilized for mining, including for coal, gold, and iron.
pg. 21 — Fiat
Fiat is an Italian automobile producer that is widely popular in Europe. It is often seen as a luxurious brand by some.
pg. 21 — Packard
An American luxury car-brand that was widely popular in both the United States and Europe.
