# Chapter XX explained — What Is to Be Done?

> Chapter companion for What Is to Be Done? by Nikolay Chernyshevsky.

## What happens

Vera Pavlovna counts down the days until her freedom from her mother's house, eagerly anticipating her marriage to Lopukhóf. She meets secretly with Lopukhóf, and they plan a rendezvous on the Konno-Gvardéïsky Boulevard. Eventually, she confronts her mother and reveals she has already married Lopukhóf, then escapes in a carriage.

## Themes in this chapter

### Freedom and Individuality

Vera's countdown to freedom and her secret marriage to Lopukhóf represent her struggle for personal autonomy against her mother's oppressive control.

### Love and Marriage

The chapter centers on Vera's marriage to Lopukhóf as a liberating act, contrasting with the conventional arranged marriage her mother would have chosen.

## Character check-ins

### Viéra Pavlovna

Counts down the days to freedom, meets secretly with Lopukhóf, and finally escapes her mother's house after revealing her marriage.

### Dmitri Sergéitch Lopukhóf

Plans a meeting with Vera on the boulevard and supports her escape; they have already married.

### Marya Alekséyevna

Vera's mother, who is deceived by Vera's excuse to go to the Nevsky Prospekt and is left behind when Vera escapes.

## Key lines

> I shall get out of this cellar. Akh! how happy I am! My mílenki ! how cleverly he thought it all out! How happy I am!

Vera rejoices that she will soon escape her oppressive home life, praising Lopukhóf's clever plan.

_Vera's emotional relief and gratitude toward Lopukhóf for orchestrating her escape._

> Goodbye, mámenka ; I am going to my husband. Dmitri Sergéitch and I were married three days ago.

Vera announces to her mother that she has already married Lopukhóf and is leaving home.

_The climactic moment of Vera's rebellion and assertion of independence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/chapters/xx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/what_is_to_be_done_se/chapters