# Part III: Intervening in Siberia explained — Futility

> Chapter companion for Futility by William Gerhardie.

## What happens

The narrator recounts the Allied intervention in Siberia during the Russian Civil War, focusing on the chaotic and futile efforts to support anti-Bolshevik forces. The narrative highlights the absurdity of the situation, the personal entanglements of the characters, and the disillusionment that pervades the intervention.

## Themes in this chapter

### Futility and Meaninglessness

The intervention is portrayed as a chaotic and ultimately pointless endeavor, reflecting the broader sense of futility in the characters' lives.

### Social and Political Chaos

The Siberian intervention is marked by political intrigue, social upheaval, and the breakdown of order, mirroring the larger chaos of the Russian Civil War.

## Character check-ins

### Nikolai Vasilievich

The narrator and protagonist, reflecting on the intervention and his personal experiences.

### Fanny Ivanovna

Present in the background, knitting and confiding her fears about the political situation.

### Nina Bursànova

Her rejection of the narrator in Vladivostok marks a key personal event during the intervention.

### Admiral Kolchak

The leader of the White forces in Siberia, whose thé dansant is a notable social event.

## Key lines

> The intervention in Siberia was a farce from the start.

The narrator views the Allied intervention as a ridiculous and doomed undertaking.

_Reflects the theme of futility and the absurdity of the political situation._

> Fanny sat in the corner, knitting furiously, her eyes darting nervously around the room.

Fanny is anxious and preoccupied, using knitting as a nervous habit while observing the tense atmosphere.

_Highlights Fanny's character and the underlying tension of the intervention._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/futility_se/chapters/part-iii-intervening-in-siberia
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/futility_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/futility_se/chapters