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¶ … Boris Akunin's the Turkish Gambit (New York: Widenfield & Nicholson, 2005, pp.42-80)
The second part of Boris Akunin's novel The Turkish Gambit is mainly devoted to the exploration of the mystery of who is the real spy within the army. Varya retains her political convictions: "Completely forgetting about her appropriate tone of voice, Varya exclaimed passionately: 'But the times we live in are so oppressive and so hard! Honest people are op- pressed, sinking beneath the burden!'" (p.58) When she meets a man schooled in older and more genteel manners, she exclaims: "In St. Petersburg, one does not kiss modern women's hands!" (p. 59) Varya's feminist, socialist, and anti-religious convictions place her in constant conflict with the mores of almost anyone with whom she comes into contact with. "Man's relations with the Almightily are founded upon the conscious acknowledgement of inequality," says one man and Varya rages against this idea in a political debate, providing entertaining diversion in the novel, even though this dialogue does not offer a solution to the mystery. (p.60)
Varya finds her beliefs most obviously challenged by the presence of the Ottoman Empire's harems. She says that modern women should never agree to live as wives in harem, as the custom is humiliating and barbaric. Even when seeking the truth, she cannot restrain herself, as during the begging of the section, she is disgusted to hear of the ladies of one harem, who loved their husband so passionately wept at his execution, even though Varya believes they should have cheered their release from tyranny.
Varya's passionate and intense nature is both her strength and her weakness. On one hand, her convictions are admirable. She refuses to silence herself. However, her bias can get in the way of passing through society, gathering needed evidence, and stifle dialogue that could provide potential clues, if the exchanges were carried out in a less threatening manner.
182) This episode describes Zurov's murder during a battle when he had to deliver a very important message to Russian general. As a result of his murder the battle was lost and Turks were able to win time in Plevna. 7. "So it was simply lying in his inside pocket? Well, well"(p.137) This episode describe that colonel Kazanzaki was blackmailed by Anvar-effendi, who knew about Kazanzaki's homosexuality, otherwise commander would not permit Kazanzaki's
It shows the underside of war, which is all about power, politics, and negotiation, when many people think it is just about fighting and winning. However, war is more than fighting and winning. It is hardship, it is power, and it is about gaining opportunities by defeating others. Oh it's ages since I had a ride in a train,' she sighed dreamily. 'Lie back on your soft seat, open a
The "angel of death" is fate or death that awaits many of the soldiers waiting for attack. In a few hours, many of these men will be dead or wounded, and there is nothing Varya can do to change it, it is inevitable. But then, at the observation point, everyone was excited and full of gleeful anticipation" (Akunin 122). This shows the "carnival" aspect of war, which as gruesome as
This is ironic, given that men of science are hardly thought to be the most socially adept individuals, and Nathan's ability to understand human nature is frequently revealed to be faulty. Nathan does not understand the emotional truths of human nature, and is not in touch with his gut, natural instincts even though he sees himself as an expert. Understanding something on an intellectual level does not necessarily mean
" (p.7) She believes that "chastity and hypocritical piety were shackles imposed on women" by men, and even debates with her fiancee whether it would be wrong or right to have an open relationship with another man. (p.9) Despite their unconventional attitudes towards marriage, Varya clearly loves Pyotr, who seems like the more conventional member of the pair. "Of course, he would settle for carnal love without a wedding ceremony,"