# Chapter XLIII explained — Sanine

> Chapter companion for Sanine by Mikhail Artsybashev.

## What happens

Sanine decides to leave town, feeling bored with everyone including Lida, Sina, and Semenoff. He asks Ivanoff to accompany him to the station, but Ivanoff declines. Sanine overhears a tense conversation between Lida and Novikoff about sacrifice and love, then packs hastily and departs. At the station, he and Ivanoff share a farewell drink, and Sanine jumps onto a moving train, leaving Ivanoff to return to his grey life.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nihilism and the Meaning of Life

Sanine states he expects nothing from life and that old age and death are all that await, reflecting a nihilistic outlook.

### Despair of the Intelligentsia

Ivanoff's return to a grey, tedious life and Sanine's boredom with his acquaintances illustrate the despair of the educated class.

## Character check-ins

### Yourii Sanine

Decides to leave town because he is bored; expresses nihilistic views about life; jumps onto a moving train.

### Ivanoff

Accompanies Sanine to the station, shares a farewell drink, and returns home feeling mournful.

### Vladimir Sanine

Overheard arguing with Novikoff about sacrifice and love; cries during the conversation.

### Sascha Novikoff

Argues with Lida about the nature of their union, insisting it should not be seen as a sacrifice.

## Key lines

> I don't expect anything from life, and I don't ask for anything either. As for luck, there's not much of that at the finish. Old age and death; that's about all.

Sanine says he has no expectations or desires from life, and that the only certain outcomes are aging and death.

_Expresses Sanine's nihilistic philosophy._

> You're the only real man that I have ever met.

Ivanoff tells Sanine he is the only genuine person he has encountered.

_Ivanoff's farewell compliment to Sanine._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xliii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sanine_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sanine_se/chapters