Sanine · Chapter
Chapter XXVII explained
Volochine visits Sarudine, and the two men engage in a lewd conversation about women, during which Sarudine boastfully describes his conquest of Lida, reducing her to a mere object of lust.
What happens
Volochine visits Sarudine, and the two men engage in a lewd conversation about women, during which Sarudine boastfully describes his conquest of Lida, reducing her to a mere object of lust. Their talk becomes increasingly obscene, and they ultimately decide to seek out Lida, whom they now refer to as 'Lidka'.
Themes in this chapter
Sexual Freedom and Hypocrisy
Sarudine and Volochine's conversation objectifies women and reduces them to mere physical attributes, revealing a hypocritical and degrading attitude toward sexuality.
Gender and Double Standards
The men's lewd discussion and their treatment of Lida as an object for sale exemplify the double standard that allows men to boast of conquests while women are shamed and degraded.
Characters to notice
- Victor Sergejevitsch Sarudine
Sits at the window drinking cold tea, feeling ashamed and afraid of Lida. He tries to soothe his conscience but is haunted by her accusation. He eventually boasts about his conquest of Lida to Volochine.
- Pavel Lvovitsch Volochine
Visits Sarudine, eager for details of his conquests. He is a libertine who thinks only of women, and his conversation with Sarudine becomes grotesquely obscene.
- Lida Sanine
Referenced as the object of Sarudine's boastful and degrading description. She is called 'Lidka' by the two men as they plan to seek her out.
Key passages
“He seemed to see before him Lida’s handsome, inscrutable eyes, and her lips tightly compressed, vindictive, menacing.”
Sarudine imagines Lida's angry and threatening expression.
Highlights Sarudine's fear and guilt after Lida's confrontation.
“Before the eyes of Volochine, Lida was exhibited as in a state of nudity, her physical attributes and her passion all being displayed as though she were some animal for sale at a fair.”
Sarudine describes Lida's body and passion to Volochine as if she were an animal at a market.
Illustrates the dehumanizing objectification of Lida by the two men.