My Disillusionment in Russia · Chapter
XIII: Joining the Museum of the Revolution explained
The narrator joins the Museum of the Revolution, housed in the Winter Palace, and prepares for an expedition to the Ukraine and Caucasus.
What happens
The narrator joins the Museum of the Revolution, housed in the Winter Palace, and prepares for an expedition to the Ukraine and Caucasus. She interacts with staff, including M. B. Kaplan and a critical colleague, and observes the hardships of workers. Angelica Balabanova arrives with an Italian Mission, and the narrator witnesses the disillusionment of the masses during celebrations. Balabanova shares her distress over the plight of the former princess Narishkin. The narrator declines a nursing position offered by Petrovsky due to her shaken faith in the Bolsheviks, and the expedition car is finally secured.
Themes in this chapter
Disillusionment with Revolution
The narrator observes the masses waiting in hunger and cold during the Italian Mission celebrations, and reflects on the loss of spontaneity and vitality in the revolution.
Suffering of the People
Workers at the Museum are described as shadow-like with frostbitten hands; a woman on Uritski Square weeps from hunger after being forced to march for hours.
Betrayal of Revolutionary Ideals
The narrator's faith in the Bolsheviks is shaken by their methods toward Makhno, the persecution of Anarchists, and Cheka activities.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
Joins the Museum of the Revolution, prepares for an expedition, and reflects on her disillusionment with the Bolsheviks.
- Angelica Balabanova
Arrives in Petrograd with the Italian Mission, expresses distress over the plight of the former princess Narishkin, and is bound by party discipline.
- Mr. Kaplan
Secretary of the Museum, cordially receives the narrator and explains the Museum's plans; strongly pro-Bolshevik.
- Petrovsky
Chief of the Central Military Education Department, offers the narrator a position as head instructress in a Nurses' Training School, but the offer comes too late.
- Lisa Zorin
The narrator approaches Zorin to be assigned as a nurse, but hears nothing further.
Key passages
“Their faces were bloated and bluish, their hands frostbitten, their whole appearance shadow-like.”
The workers' faces were swollen and blue, their hands damaged by cold, and they looked like ghosts.
Describes the dire physical condition of Museum workers.
“The Bolsheviki care not about merit; their chief concern is a membership card.”
The Bolsheviks value party membership over ability.
A critical colleague expresses frustration with Communist favoritism.
“It is easy for them to talk, but we’ve had no food all day.”
The speakers find it easy to give speeches, but we haven't eaten anything all day.
A woman on Uritski Square voices the suffering of the masses during the Italian Mission celebration.