Originally Posted by Karen 6th October 2006


At the beginning of the book on page 29 Meek gives Samarin a very important story to tell. It was important for Balashov to hear it and it was important for us to remember it.

The story of the Monk who warns a town of a coming plague. When asked, he says HE is the plague. It is already there.

On page 259, Samarin talks to Anna, about the cannibal and that "he's a man so dedicated to the happiness of the future world that he sets himself to destroy all the corrupt and cruel functionaries he can". ..... He's not the destroyer, he is destruction."

Then on the train, Alyosha asks "who are you really" and he replies "Destruction."

Why was he warning them? Why didn't they hear him?

Nurseanne8


Samarin issued the warning when he saw the excitement possibly admiration-hero worship- in the eyes of Alyosha who viewed the events on the train before the bullets start flying from the machine guns as a great adventure. Samarin wanted the boy to know that he was a "doer" of deadly deeds to provide happiness for the future since the world was in the throes of a revolution. I believe Samarin's warning was not one of assistance to offer escape but to notify Alyosha that his life was expendable in order to steal the train.

Karen


I still wonder why Balashov didn't see the warning signs....

Nurseanne8


Do you mean when Balashov met Samarin in the forest? Is the answer possibly hinted on page 303-when Balashov is utilizing the horse as his confessional-he lied about Samarin killing the Shaman-because he was returning from performing a castration when he came upon Samarin-maybe he had an idea about Samarin but remained quiet to cover his lie-I got the message that Balashov lied alot to cover for his continued castrations of new recruits.

Karen


That's true, he was lying about where he'd been, but I think Samrain knew what he was. I wonder how long that the castration idea had been there? Samarin had been up to the north to try to save Katya.....

Nurseanne8


Page 35-Samarin-draw his knife and places it across Balashov's throat and says he will not kill him if he denies they met-and Balashov calls out to him to not harm Anna-since Samarin has her picture-maybe Balashov realizes who and what Samarin stands for but is sticking to the agreement-to protect Anna and his lie. My question is why did Mutz put this in? possibly to show how people choose to ignore clues when they are caught up in lies?

Herestoyou


Balashov definitely was out to save his own skin and therefore agrees to go along with Samarin. I think he knew that Samarin was a danger but wanted to protect his own secret, which is why in the end he has so much guilt. As for Meek putting this in the story, I think it's just his use of foreshadowing of events to come and it adds to us understanding Samarin, too. Often, characters(and people) just refuse to see what's right in front of them, the "denial" factor.

Nurseanne8


Agreed herestoyou we all deny what is uncomfortable-and Meek's choice of words were definitely innovative when dealing with this common human frality. Anne r

Karen


At times I tried to approach this book as if it were a mystery or thriller and it was a bit easier to make sense of...like looking for the missing pieces of the puzzle. LOL But sheesh...it took me a long time to figure THAT out! lol