# XXXV explained — Sanine

> Chapter companion for Sanine by Mikhail Artsybashev.

## What happens

Sanine and Ivanoff spend a day in the countryside, bathing, drinking, and debating chastity and desire. They spy on a group of bathing girls, including Sina Karsavina, and revel in the natural world, with Sanine celebrating life and vitality despite recent tragedies.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and Vitality

The chapter celebrates the natural world and physical vitality through bathing, dancing, and the joy of living.

### Sexual Freedom and Hypocrisy

Sanine argues against hypocritical chastity, advocating for open acknowledgment of natural desires.

## Character check-ins

### Yourii Sanine

Leads the outing, advocates for natural desires, dances naked, and sings joyfully.

### Ivanoff

Accompanies Sanine, expresses moral reservations about spying, but joins in the revelry.

### Sinotschka Karsavina

Spotted bathing by Sanine and Ivanoff; startles and hides in the water.

## Key lines

> If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out!

If something tempts you, remove it entirely.

_Ivanoff quotes scripture to argue for avoiding temptation, but Sanine dismisses it as nonsense._

> Oh! how good it is to be alive!

Life is wonderful and worth celebrating.

_Sanine expresses exuberant joy after the bathing and spying episode._

## Links

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