Red Dusk and the Morrow · Chapter
IV: Meshes explained
The narrator returns to Petrograd after a brief stay in Finland, finding a city under tightening Bolshevik control.
What happens
The narrator returns to Petrograd after a brief stay in Finland, finding a city under tightening Bolshevik control. He reconnects with Maria and Stepanovna, and dines with Zorinsky, who reveals his knowledge of the narrator's trip to Finland and Mrs. Marsh's escape. Zorinsky warns him about Alexei Fomitch, a supposed German spy. The narrator reflects on the new political, social, and militarist tendencies in the city, including the co-opting of bourgeois specialists and the growing repression.
Themes in this chapter
Totalitarian Control and Repression
The chapter details the tightening of Bolshevik control over cooperatives, trade unions, and elections, as well as the rounding up of Vera Alexandrovna's café patrons.
Survival and Everyday Resistance
The narrator changes his name to Joseph Krylenko, uses forged documents, and navigates the dangers of mobilization and surveillance to survive.
Deception and Identity
The narrator adopts a false identity and must constantly conceal his movements and associations, especially from Zorinsky, who knows more than he reveals.
Humanitarianism vs. Ideology
The narrator reflects on educated Russians who heroically serve the people despite the regime, and notes the Bolsheviks' eventual encouragement of such service for their own credit.
Characters to notice
- Captain Zorinsky
Hosts the narrator for dinner, reveals knowledge of his Finland trip and Mrs. Marsh's escape, warns about Alexei Fomitch, and mentions Vera Alexandrovna's café being raided.
- Mrs. Marsh
Her escape to Finland is discussed; the narrator praises her endurance during the journey and confirms she is on her way to England.
- Maria
The narrator visits Maria and Stepanovna, recounting his return from Finland and Mrs. Marsh's escape.
- Stepanovna
Present with Maria when the narrator returns and shares his story.
- Vera Alexandrovna
Her café has been raided by the Bolsheviks and she is imprisoned, as reported by Zorinsky.
- Alexei Fomitch
Mentioned by Zorinsky as a German spy; the narrator claims never to have heard of him.
- Elena Ivanovna
Zorinsky's wife, who complains about food shortages and asks about food in Finland.
- Melnikoff
The narrator seeks news of him from Zorinsky, but the topic is delayed until later in the conversation.
Key passages
“No people in the world are so capable of heroic and self-sacrificing labour for purely altruistic motives as a certain type of Russian.”
The narrator observes that some Russians are uniquely capable of selfless, heroic work for the common good.
Reflects on the altruistic dedication of educated Russians during the persecution of the intelligentsia.
“The call for volunteers was a complete failure from the start, except in so far as people joined the Red army with the object of getting bigger rations until being sent to the front, and then deserting at the first opportunity.”
Volunteering for the Red Army failed; people only joined for better food and then deserted.
Highlights the failure of voluntary mobilization and the desperation of the populace.
“I resolved to cultivate Zorinsky’s acquaintance for my own ends, but until I knew him better never to betray any true feelings of surprise, fear, or satisfaction.”
The narrator decides to use Zorinsky for his own purposes while hiding his true emotions.
Shows the narrator's strategic caution and mistrust of Zorinsky.
“It was clear he had somehow established a connection in his mind between the Policeman’s name and that of Mrs. Marsh, my relief was intense to find him now on the wrong tack and apparently indifferent to the subject.”
Zorinsky suspects a link between the Policeman and Mrs. Marsh, but the narrator is relieved he is mistaken and loses interest.
Illustrates the narrator's relief at Zorinsky's misdirection regarding Mrs. Marsh's escape.
