# Chapter XXII explained — Sanine

> Chapter companion for Sanine by Mikhail Artsybashev.

## What happens

Yourii returns to his room and reflects on his recent love episode with Sina, feeling it was shallow and meaningless. He spirals into nihilistic self-criticism, comparing himself unfavorably to others and questioning the value of life. He contemplates suicide with a revolver, but when he pulls the trigger, it fails to fire. He then rationalizes the event, feels a sense of relief, and eventually goes to sleep as dawn breaks.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nihilism and the Meaning of Life

Yourii's entire internal monologue grapples with the meaninglessness of life, concluding that 'life itself is not worthy of sacrifice nor of enthusiasm,' leading him to consider suicide.

### Despair of the Intelligentsia

Yourii's self-torture and inability to find purpose or a worthy ideal exemplify the despair of the educated class, trapped between lofty aspirations and mundane reality.

## Character check-ins

### Yourii Sanine

Yourii is the central focus of the chapter, engaging in intense self-reflection and nihilistic despair, culminating in a failed suicide attempt.

### Sinotschka Karsavina

Sina is mentioned in Yourii's thoughts as the object of his recent 'love-episode' and as a consideration in his suicidal deliberations.

### Anatole Pavlovitch Riasantzeff

Riasantzeff is referenced by Yourii as an example of a shallow, self-satisfied person unlike himself.

### Sascha Novikoff

Novikoff is mentioned alongside Riasantzeff as another person Yourii considers shallow and uncritical.

## Key lines

> I stole a kiss from her! What bliss! How heroic of me! How exquisitely romantic! In the moonlight the hero beguiles the fair maid with burning words and kisses! Bah! what rubbish!

Yourii mocks his own romantic encounter as trivial and clichéd, dismissing it as foolishness.

_This shows Yourii's self-critical and disillusioned view of his relationship with Sina._

> Consequently there is no sense in living at all.

Yourii concludes that life lacks any inherent meaning or purpose.

_This is the climax of his nihilistic reasoning, directly leading to his suicide attempt._

> Fate would not have it so.

After the revolver fails to fire, Yourii interprets the event as fate intervening to prevent his death.

_This rationalization allows him to feel relieved and avoid confronting his cowardice._

## Links

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