# XXIII explained — Sanine

> Chapter companion for Sanine by Mikhail Artsybashev.

## What happens

Lida, consumed by shame and guilt after her seduction by Sarudine, avoids her mother and broods by the river. Sanine brings Novikoff to her, and after a tense silence, Novikoff declares his love and proposes marriage. Lida, overwhelmed with gratitude, accepts. Sanine leaves them to their happiness and goes off with Svarogitsch and Von Deitz.

## Themes in this chapter

### Gender and Double Standards

Lida feels degraded and ashamed after her seduction, while her brother Sanine faces no such stigma. Novikoff's 'sacrifice' in marrying her underscores the double standard.

### Sexual Freedom and Hypocrisy

Lida intellectually believes her actions were natural and praiseworthy, yet she is consumed by shame and fear of societal judgment, highlighting the hypocrisy surrounding sexual freedom.

### Despair of the Intelligentsia

Lida's brooding and sense of life as incomprehensible, along with Sanine's sad reflections on the senselessness of the world, reflect the existential despair of the intelligentsia.

## Character check-ins

### Lida Sanine

Sits by the river, tormented by shame and guilt over her seduction, yet feels free only with her brother. Accepts Novikoff's proposal.

### Yourii Sanine

Reads a tale of an old bishop, then deliberately brings Novikoff to Lida, facilitating their reconciliation. Leaves them alone together.

### Sascha Novikoff

Struggles with his feelings but ultimately proposes to Lida, forgiving her and offering a new life together.

### Yourii Svarogitsch

Mentioned as having called for Sanine along with Von Deitz.

### Von Deitz

Mentioned as having called for Sanine along with Svarogitsch.

## Key lines

> Life, as it seemed to her, was still incomprehensible. Her view of it was blurred as by some hideous phantom.

Lida finds life confusing and terrifying, as if a monstrous ghost obscures her understanding.

_Reflects Lida's existential confusion and despair._

> She ought really to find joy in this new life, just as a flower on some bright morning rejoices at the touch of the pollen borne to it on the breeze. Yet she felt unutterably degraded, and baser than the basest.

Lida thinks she should feel happy about her sexual experience, like a flower in spring, but instead feels deeply ashamed and worthless.

_Highlights the conflict between intellectual belief and emotional reality._

> I know everything, Lidia Petrovna, but I love you just as much as ever. Perhaps some day you will learn to love me. Tell me, will you be my wife?

Novikoff tells Lida he knows about her affair but still loves her and asks her to marry him, hoping she will eventually love him back.

_Key moment of forgiveness and proposal._

## Links

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