Sofia Petrovna Before the Purges,

Sofia Petrovna

Before the purges, Sofia Petrovna only mildly mocks Aleksander (Alik) Finkelstein. She describes his "big head and protruding ears," makes fun of his diminutive stature, and "reminded Sofia Petrovna of some comic character from a cartoon film," (Chukovskaia 21). Her overprotective, hovering style of motherhood also influences her attitudes toward Alik while it characterizes her relationship with her son. Sofia simply cannot believe that anyone -- male or female -- is good enough to be held in as high esteem as her son Nikolia (Kolya). At first, Sofia seems to remain aware that Alik and Kolya are best friends; and that Alik is a genuine, honest, and loyal friend to her one and only son. She entrusts Alik to take care of Kolya. "Please my dear, look after Kolya," she says (Chukovskaia 21). Ironically, the narrator comments on the "big kind eyes" that Alik will use to watch over Kolya.

When the purges begin, Alik remains a pragmatist and a realist, helping Sofia as if he were another son to her. He brings her wood, the job that Kolya used to do, and Sofia admits "of course he was a good boy," (Chukovskaia 68). Alik waits in line for six whole hours to save a place for Sofia and possibly also to argue on Alik's behalf in front of the prosecutor.

Rather than show any gratitude, Sofia begins to suspect Alik of being the cause of her son's arrest. While Sofia steadily loses a grip on reality, Alik remains a stalwart friend to a woman whose disdain for him only grows by the minute. Although Sofia exhibits paranoia toward all of those around her, she especially criticizes Alik because he was with Kolya when he got arrested. Alik is a convenient scapegoat for Sofia's angst and anguish over the disappearance of her son, allowing her to reconcile the cognitive dissonance she experiences with regards to the benevolence of the Revolution. Sofia is engaged in a classic act of shooting the messenger, as it was unfortunately Alik who had to break the news about Kolya. Also because Alik was with Kolya at the Uralmash (Ural Engineering Works) in Sverdlovsk when the arrest occurred, Sofia finds it easy to blame him. It is as if she wishes Alik, not Kolya, had been arrested. Thus begins Sofia's overt suspicion of Alik, which reflects her budding paranoia toward the entire world. She even suspects her neighbors of stealing her kerosene.

Sofia's gradual descent into depression is the direct cause of her persecution of Alik Finkelstein. Alik is nothing like the image Sofia has of him, as being "impetuous" and cries out, "Lord how stupid you are!" (Chukovskaia 45). Alik remains steadfast and loyal in spite of her increasing anger. In fact, Alik is the one who understands that the Revolution is not as glorious as they had once believed; whereas Sofia remains blinded to the truth. Instead of being angry with the system, she takes out that anger on Alik Finkelstein. Alik actually seems to understand the gravity of Kolya's situation far better than Sofia, whose wallowing prevents intelligent action. For example, Sofia imagines she will walk right in at the prosecutor's office and tell him that Kolya was a good member of the Komsomol. Alik understands what is really happening, both with Kolya and with Sofia's being fired: "We've been put on the blacklist, as I understand it. Scoundrels! Where the hell did so many swine come from all of a sudden?"