Originally Posted by Karen 25th September 2006

Meek begins his epic tale very carefully describing the young Samarin. What are some of Samarin's character traits that you discovered in "Chapter One - Samarin" ? How did your opinion of those traits change, or were they supported in the next chapter when he meets Balashov?

Ellen


Well, I've only read two chapters so far, but think I'll give this a whirl. Samarin didn't seem to have much pride in family things, because he wanted to change his name. He also seems to have a bad temper. When he enrolled in college, he had no political aspirations, even though the girl he fell in love with was a revolutionary. He was intelligent, with a voracious appetite for reading, in any language.

In the second chapter, which was nine years later, he has escaped from prison for carrying a bomb. I don't find him particularly interested in politics now, either, but think he became involved because of the girl, Katya.

I had a hard time following the story in chapter two. Samarin tells Balashov, "I know what you are." I don't follow what either one of them are or what they're doing at the end of chapter two. Does Samarin know Anna Petrovna and does he really want to kill her? Or will that be answered in a later chapter? I'm hoping Balashov's story will get a bit clearer too.

Karen


Yes, things become much clearer as you go on. I re-read this chapter about 3 times...what I should have done was just keep on reading...LOL. At this point in the story, Samarin does not know Anna Petrovna at all, remember he snuck food from Balashov's bag and Anna's picture from Balashov's wallet..so he *knows" that Balashov does know her as it's an intimate picture, personal, not a formal studio picture. And the surgical tools are also a hint to Samarin about who Balashov is. Neither one is telling the whole truth to each other. Also, Samarin forcibly took the alcohol from Balashov. They are both guarded. Both of these men are many things to different people and I think also, to themselves.

Good start Ellen....keep reading. Don't give up! We are here to help.

Ellen


Nope, I won't give up! Thanks for the info Karen, that helps. I had to laugh when I was reading the interaction between the two when they were talking about Balashov being a barber. It sounded like Sweeney Todd! LOL

"Sometimes my hand slips when I'm shaving."

"Shaving what? Shaving a throat with a scalpel?"

Karen


LOL Well, suffice it to say he's not shaving too many throats....

Sweeney Todd he ain't! LOLOL

Nurseanne8


Ellen, I agree with your character analysis of Samarin-I would add that he is a loner and does not form personal relationships easily-the chapter describes him as everyone's friend but no one can really account for any amount of time they spent with him. I feel his attraction for Katya is purely physical not based on true affection. I think he may be pretending an interest in the ideals of the revolution but really has no deep feelings for the ideals. He is very bright and is an excellent lier (shown when he meets Balashov)-evidenced by the theft of the photo of Anna, the alcohol, and the examination of the surgical instruments. Balashov is worried about the presence of Samarin and is trying to figure out exactly what he knows about the castrate sect and what his plans are while in the area.

Herestoyou

I'm responding to the question before I read the other responses. In the first chapter, I felt that Samarin was very intelligent, well read and devoted to his uncle who had raised him. He seemed to be one with intense focus, but somewhat secretive. As he got older, he was able to "fit in" socially, but seemed to have a way of getting what he wanted, even if it meant being underhanded. ie. when he "arranges" to see Katya. I also got this sense he had this eerie knack of being able to "read" people and see through their outer personas. This is evidenced when he confronts Katya about being a "terrorist." With Balashov, these traits come through again. He seems to know more about Balashov than I did as a reader. He also takes the liquor and picture from Balashov to serve his own purpose, as if knowing they may be useful to his plans. In addition, his act at the river shows that he has a goal that is not evident to the reader yet, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

Response to other posts:

It's interesting that Balashov is more concerned about Samarin finding out about the castrate sect than who or what Samarin actually may be. This again is where I think Samarin has this ability to see the truth in others no matter how hard they try to hide it. Of course, I didn't "get" this until later in the book. It seems this should be a gift, but in Samarin's case, I'm not sure it was.

Nurseanne8


herestoyou, I agree with you about his uncanny ability to see the "truth" and he uses that truth for his own purposes-which proved to be extremely evil.

Irish1967


OK - I have a copy of the book (found in the library in a neighboring town) and have read (really quickly) the only first two chapters. Here are my thoughts...

It seems that Samarin is very protective of himself. I see this in the fact that he is everyone's friend yet know one really knows him in the first chapter. Perhaps it has something to do with losing his parents so early in life and growing up with an uncle that doesn't really fit in with society. Also, it seems like his interest in Katya is pretty immature, but given his age, not a surprise.

In the second chapter, I started wondering about Samarin's moral fiber. He didn't have a problem with stealing from Balashov and lying about it when caught. Then I started thinking that this poor soul has spent several years in a Siberian prison - what would that do to a person and what would that cause that person to do in order to survive?

I'm not sure what is driving Samarin - but am sure that will become clearer as I make progress in the book.

I am looking forward to moving on in the book. I realize that my thoughts aren't necessarily deep, but like I said I pretty much skimmed the first two chapters. I'm planning on rereading the first two chapters and moving on after I get the kids to bed!

Nurseanne8


Glad you are joining in and all thoughts are welcome-this is a great book to discuss it has so many themes-it is fun to see what other members think about Karen's questions.

Sally2jack


Oh some great analyses.

I too saw him as a bit of a loner, wanting to disassociate from the family name, etc. When he wheedled his way into see Katya his manipulation skills start becoming evident. The optimist in me assumed it was all for love of a sort.

In the second chapter when he meets up with Balashov and steals the wallet I started wondering more about his ethos and how much he had been manipulating people throughout his years, to be able to come across so truthful.

I agree about his ability to see the truth, too. That was a good call.

The burying the hand thing bothered me for so long. I couldn't figure out why he did it and I *so* thought I was missing something. (Was it a respectful thing, to bury a part of the man? Is he crazy? Was he leaving a calling card of a sort?) It played at the back of my mind forever until things started revealing themselves far later on. Drove me batty!

Nurseanne8


The hand episode threw me a loop but it was a brillant act-further illustrating the intelliegence and ability to influence others.

Deppraved


When I'm first starting to read, the clues are all there but I'm not tuned in to it, but when things begin to really take shape and knock me between the eyes, I'll look back and realise how the traits were all there from the beginning.

The first chapter, "Samarin", shows the reader his duplicity, his use of lying to manipulate people and the way he can mask his true feelings with ease.

And..... he is devouring the concept of terrorist radical revolutonary.

I think he finds it, from a young age, his vocation, his calling.

The pamphlet he reads to Katya becomes his credo, and he sacrifices his life to the cause and becomes the conduit.

I hope I'm making sense to you all, and please forgive my blatant abuse of cliches!!

Nurseanne8


Deppraved the passage in the book about the pamphlet and the interaction with Katya still puzzles me-it seems to me that she recites the passages on page 8 and 10 from memory and he reads the passages to her-so my question is who recruits whom? and from this I felt that Samarin really was not vested in the ideals of the revolution but used it as a front for his devious deeds-basically antisocial behavior. I am very confused by this and any insight would be appreciated.

Herestoyou


The way I understood it, Samarin knew that Katya was a revolutionary but she had kept it hidden from him, or so she thought. However, as was mentioned earlier, he had that knack of seeing people for who they really were. He tries to take the bomb away from her because I truly think he had feelings for her. When he sees what she is willing to go through to achieve her goal, I think he then starts becoming the revolutionary in action, not just in words. The whole "end justifies the means" cliche. Remember we found out later in the book about the real events at White Garden, so I think in that regard, he had true feelings for her. Just my take on it...........