P. 411-470
In this section of the book (chapters 16 to chapter 27 p.411-470), Grossman vividly depicts the utter trepidation felt by the Soviet soldiers in House 6/1 in the first part of the section. Grossman writes: “Maybe the Germans would appear any moment out of the far corners of the cellar. Maybe they were about to appear through the hole in the ceiling” (413). The Soviet soldiers were full of stark apprehension for the Germans. During this period of apprehension and terror, struggles of love and power start to form in House 6/1.
It is interesting to note the way Grossman portrays the role of Katya Vengrova, a female Soviet radio-operator in House 6/1. In World War II, the role of women is often overlooked as the majority of soldiers were men. In the Soviet Army, however, more than 800,000 women were found on the front lines. In House 6/1, all the men become obsessed with Katya as they start joking about who will be the first one to sleep with her. Grossman describes Grekov’s feelings towards Katya: “I’ve never met a girl like you before. If I’d met you before the war, I’d have made you my wife” (414). In times of war, is there time for feelings such as love and compassion? All too often, World War II is characterized by vast destruction and bloodshed. Grossman, however, aptly alludes to feelings of affection in this section that characterize the soldiers’ nostalgia for love and relationships. Despite having to put on manly façades for the war, the Soviet soldiers still are attracted to Katya. What does this illustrate about the human psyche in terms of love and war?
In this section, a power struggle also starts to form between Grekov, the house manager of House 6/1 and Krymov, the commissar. Krymov declares: “Grekov, you’re going too far. You’ve lost all sense of proportion….My orders were that, if necessary, I should demote you and take command myself. Why force me along that path” (425)? Thus, Krymov accuses Grekov of losing his cool and threatens to strip him of his power. Grekov, however, is a stubborn-minded character who wields a great amount of control over the other soldiers in the House. Grossman describes Grekov: “He was very different....He never threatened people or shouted at them, but they obeyed him. He just sat there, smoking and chatting away like one of the soldiers. And yet his authority was immense” (414). Why do you think the soldiers in House 6/1 respect Grekov so much despite his stubborn temperament? Does he exhibit the qualities of a Machiavellian leader? Who do you think is a better leader Krymov or Grekov and why?
After the account of the events associated with House 6/1, Grossman turns to the arrival of Viktor, Lyudmila and Nadya in Moscow. As Viktor’s life in Moscow progresses, his thoughts revolve around trivial things such as rations and “petty bourgeois concerns” (467). Grossman writes: “He was ashamed at being so preoccupied with things like rations. He had grown dull....Why had these trivialities, these petty-bourgeois concerns suddenly become so important? Why had his spiritual life in Kazan been so much purer, so much more significant? Why was it that even his scientific work—and his joy in it – was now contaminated with vanity and pettiness?....Why, now he was back in Moscow, were the things he recalled so trivial and insignificant? Why did he think so often of people he had no respect for? And why were the most talented people, the most trustworthy people, unable to help him” (467, 470)? Thus, Grossman marks Viktor’s arrival in Moscow with a sudden turn to the commonplace and the mundane. Viktor begins to question his living conditions and his spiritual faith. Indeed, he now associates his scientific work with a sense of frivolity. Why do you think this transition in Viktor’s life has occurred? Do you believe that the people Viktor admires the most share the same ideology as Viktor? And what about the relationship between Sokolov (the mathematician in Viktor’s lab) and Viktor? Do Viktor’s Anti-Stalinist feelings have an effect on the relationship between the two academics?
Well, that’s all I have for this post. Thanks for an awesome year guys. The discussions we had were insightful, passionate, and edifying. Thanks for putting up with all of us and our sometimes tangential discussions, Mr. Heubeck. (Also, thanks for the myriad of extensions. They saved us all.) I will certainly miss Lockwood’s “Death is Dead” mantra and Tino’s ardent admiration of Rush Limbaugh :) Good luck to you all next year!
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This weblog accompanies the Intellectual History course taught by Mr. Heubeck. Posts and comments to the readings/class discussions are welcome and at times required. All comments should be thoughtful and relevent to the course. No ad hominem attacks. Use the blog to discuss ideas that are insightful, intelligent, and risky.
Great post, Dara. And I am not obsessed with Rush Limbaugh haha I just think the extremist remarks that he makes are hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI really liked the idea that you presented in your post concerning love and compassion, and if and when it exists in a violent, destructive, and warlike situation. I think that Grossman, by adding in this little section with the soldier's comments on Katya and their love for her, means to reinstitute the human spirit, to give these hardened, mindless, broken dogs of war a sense of their true humanity. He wants to remind the reader that all that is happening is human, that these are men, not machines, and that certain feelings and emotions are invulnerable to the horrors of war. Love is omnipresent, as is feeling. This goes back to the inner, inherent, and universal characteristics of every human being. Despite the bloodshed, despite the hate, despite the oppressive iron fist of totalitarianism, despite the violence and terror and atrocities of this world, we are all still human.
Thanks everyone for an insightful and entertaining year. This was one of my favorite classes because the people in it were genuinely interested in these such themes that have plagued the human condition for centuries. Our debates were intellectual and, intriguing, and the various perceptions and viewpoints presented by each and every one of you really brought a whole new dimension to our discussions. Thanks again.
First off: it's way too late to be thinking coherently. But here goes the true last comment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Evan. (Can I just say that?)
In all seriousness, indicating something as basic as physical attraction really reinstates the humanity of these men. When we read this novel, we may have trouble relating to the situations the characters find themselves in. After all, we are not really serving in a Totalitarian dictatorship. However, by describing the sexual attraction, we find something simply human about these men. Something that we, the readers, can latch onto and understand.
Thank you everyone for a great year. Really. Mr. Heubeck, you've put up with my pop culture love and for that, I thank you. You really have shown us how passion can make someone an excellent mentor. I'll explain that when I see you at graduation.
The byotch is out!
Nice post, Dara. It too was a pleasure: I thoroughly enjoyed EuroIdeo and the interesting discussions we had all year long, Samurai killer at JHU and “Death is Dead” to name a few. I’ll definitely miss this class.
ReplyDeleteOn to your post, I think you bring up a facet of the human condition, which we have yet to take into account. All men are subject to their instinctive urges, their sexual drive. It is no different in Grossman’s world. This side to Katya and the rest of the soldiers affirms its believability as a work of fiction. He does not try to escape or undermine the fact that love permeates through all aspects of society, even the army and war. Despite the true horrors of totalitarianism, the men who comprise it are fully capable of expressing their more tender side – we all, down to our very core, are human and nothing else.
It was fun my people. I had a blast. Good luck to everyone on your endeavors beyond Gilman. I’m excited. Keep in touch, everyone. Email me at elwhtiman@mac.com. You better.
I think dara raises an interesting question. Can the love we know it in the west (modernized forms of love) exist in the Soviet Union under communism?can love really exist at all? I think the answer to this question is no - at least in any definiton of love that is meaningful. Mr christian has defined love as "looking with each other in the same direction." Dr. Mo has defined love as "when someone else's happiness is more important to you than your own. But this sort of emotion between Katya and the soldiers is not love, it is lust. The sort of real love that existed between Lyudmila and Tolya , Krymov Yevgenia or beween Viktor and physics, are all suppressed and ultimately destroyed by the State. We also saw this occur in the Lives of Others. The totalitarian state truly is loveless.
ReplyDeleteDara, you make goo points. However, I think that it is not the Germans that the soldiers fear but rather the suspense, as I have said before (and I believe that at this point especially since this post is out of place it is not necessary to elaborate) the life of a soldier is preferable to that of a citizen because it involves less intelectual though and crafty diversion to survive. All that a soldier wants to do is have the action thrust upon him so that he does not have to think about what he is doing and risk jeopardizing his nature. At this point I will stop. it has been a great year with many inspiring and though provoking discussions. Thank you everyone, including Mr. Heubeck, and have a great time next year.
ReplyDeleteIn the midst of all that violence and bloodshed, Grekov and the other soldiers really do need something human to hold onto. If there is any way to escape from the violence and destruction that surrounds them, it is through human relationships. How can love exist in the midst of a war? Love and hate are probably closer to each other than love and apathy. In the extremes of emotions probably felt in that household, love could be one of them.
ReplyDeleteGrekov is a much better leader because he commands so much more respect. He is a soldier also and not just a member of the the party, so the soldiers identify with him more. As you said, he just sits down and chats with them, and by having respect for his soldiers and placing them on the same level as himself, he is more likely to have the soldiers follow him.
Finally done. Thanks for a great year
I think Viktors mind is wracked by petty, inconsequential ideas, because he is becoming suceptible to Soviet influence. The Soviets want the Russian people to live like animals: only thinking about what they will eat, where they will sleep, and how they will survive among predators. Viktor notices his turn to simple-mindedness because he is an intellectual, and he notices the great difference in his mind. Many other Russians, however, did not notice how simple their concerns were in Soviet Russia. They failed to notice that their thoughts and concerns were not unlike those of a weak animal. They did not analyze the affect that Communism had on their own conciousness. Perhaps this is why so many Russians were complacent in the rise of communism.
ReplyDeleteMr. Heubeck, Check your junk email. I sent you the pictures of Connor at Batemans.
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm late - I didn't realize there was one more! And I'm still sorry (gomenasai, gomenasai), but somehow I can't find the inclusion of a female potential love interest in a war story remarkable or symbolic. It might be a symbolic statement on the condition of humanity, or it might be, you know, what every other war story ever since The Iliad does. What I'm hearing from you guys is "These characters, even in a totalitarian state, are not mindless dogs because they still think girls are sexy! They break free of evil Communism and retain their humanity by thinking about SEX!" Honestly. Give me a break.
ReplyDeletePS. On the subject of Limbaugh and the like, I find that The Daily Show is basically 'Fox News: The Abridged Series' these days.
I agree with the comrades above who argue that sexual attraction is a characteristic of these men that makes them more like human beings. Andrew- although it is not "remarkable" adding a female character to the scene, I think at least in The Lives of Others it gave me a new perspective of Viessler.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I would like to also comment on the types of women these Russians admire- women on the front line, fighting for the Stalinist regime and mother Russia! That should really comment on their state of mind.
This was my favorite class in all of high school Mr. Heubeck, and somehow simultaneously the most valuable. The attack on the idealism of the Enlightenment should really apply to all aspects of our lives when dealing with situations or people that will "solve all of our problems." (obama)
P.S I like Rush Limbaugh's beliefs on the economy but find his radical remarks funny.
P.S.S: The majority of liberals are rich college drop out actors that are like "omg I have lots of stuff so I think everyone else is entitled to it too! I have a public high school education, but a firm grip on politics!"
Andrew- i would tend to agree with you. However, i do think there is some merit in the realization of how attractive the men find katya. This is important for only one reason. It is not saying that they have broken free from anything, rather, it is saying that they themselves have not changed. the conditions around them have surely been altered but their fundamental beings have not been. As a result, if one is to accept that man has not been changed, it is no wonder why communism faultered as it did after the cold war.
ReplyDeleteComrade Dara, I think the most interesting point you make is the relationship between Krymov and Grekov, and the tension between them about leadership in House 6/1. I think Grekov is a better leader for the house, because he is not concerned with Soviet propaganda the way Krymov is. When people are stuck in a life-or-death struggle in a war the way the people in House 6/1 are, political ideology is less important than making it through each day alive. The people in House 6/1 know that Grekov is focused on their survival and on the day-to-day necessities. So, even though he is stubborn and difficult, they know that he is the man most likely to get them through this alive. That is the kind of leadership that matters in that kind of situation.
ReplyDeleteNO there is no time for feelings such as love and compassion in war because if there were then they would be no war. War is representative of a conflict void of such pillars of humanity because surely no man can risk another’s life with those at the forefront. If there were time for love and compassion, there would also be time to look the other man in the eye and tell him or her why exactly you were killing them. No love is dead in war are merely lust remains. What were call love in war is really nothing more than the diversion of the feelings felt on the battlefield for blood to the opposite gender for sex. SO what of this corrupted sense of proportion? When love and compassion enter a war like setting, the things added up before seem not to make as much sense, killing for the sake of killing starts to sound just a brutal as it is and killing your fellow more no matter how different he is starts to feel and seem as gruesomely horrid as it actually is.
ReplyDelete