The Created Legend · Chapter
Chapter XX explained
The chapter details the activities of the Black Hundred and the Union of Active Combat with Revolution and Anarchy, led by Glafira Pavlovna Konopatskaya, Kerbakh, and Zherbenev.
What happens
The chapter details the activities of the Black Hundred and the Union of Active Combat with Revolution and Anarchy, led by Glafira Pavlovna Konopatskaya, Kerbakh, and Zherbenev. They recruit Ostrov, who becomes a zealous informant against Trirodov's colony. The town is in turmoil with strikes, patriotic demonstrations, and rising anti-Semitic violence. Ostrov reconnects with Yakov Poltinin, who plans to steal and destroy a miracle-working icon. The chapter culminates in a hooligan attack on a Jewish woman, resulting in her murder.
Themes in this chapter
Class Conflict and Culture
The Black Hundred and Union of Active Combat exploit class tensions, recruiting workers with money and weapons, while targeting intelligentsia and Jews.
Revolution and Social Upheaval
The town is in ferment with strikes, patriotic demonstrations, and rumors of armed revolt; the murder of a Jewish woman exemplifies the violent unrest.
Duality of Human Nature
Ostrov is described as both a 'cutthroat' and an 'ingenuous infant,' while Poltinin and others combine patriotic rhetoric with criminal plans like icon theft.
Characters to notice
- Ostrov
Recruited into the Black Hundred and Union of Active Combat; becomes an informant against Trirodov's colony; participates in plans to steal a sacred icon.
- Glafira Konopatskaya
Rich widow and leader of local Black Hundred and Union of Active Combat; hosts meetings and approves Ostrov's recruitment.
- Kerbakh
Frequent guest at Konopatskaya's; recommends Ostrov for the union; involved in organizing patriotic movements.
- Zherbenev
Also recommends Ostrov; collaborates with Kerbakh and Konopatskaya in the Black Hundred.
- Poltinin
Old friend of Ostrov; sent from the capital to establish connections; leads plans to steal the miracle-working icon.
- Matov
Piotr Matov; agrees to accompany Ostrov to the monastery despite earlier unfriendly circumstances.
- Trirodov
His colony is targeted by Ostrov's informant activities; clouds gather over his establishment.
Key passages
“Her house served as the meeting-place of the local branch of this All-Russian organization as well as of another secret society, which bore the elaborate name of 'The Union of Active Combat with Revolution and Anarchy.'”
Glafira Pavlovna's home hosted both the local Black Hundred branch and a secret society called the Union of Active Combat with Revolution and Anarchy.
Establishes the setting for the chapter's political activities.
“Once mention Jews to him and he begins to howl like a dog on a chain.”
Ostrov reacts with extreme hostility at the mere mention of Jews.
Highlights Ostrov's virulent anti-Semitism, a key trait for his role in the Black Hundred.
“To steal and destroy the miracle-working icon—that would be something to crow about!”
Poltinin sees the theft and destruction of the icon as a grand, boastworthy achievement.
Reveals the blasphemous and criminal ambitions of the group.
“A broad knife was lifted in the darkness and, gleaming, came down in a swoop, piercing the old woman. She gave a quick, shrill cry—and fell back dead.”
A hooligan stabs a Jewish widow to death in the street.
Depicts the brutal anti-Semitic violence that concludes the chapter.
