Chapter 2, We the Living Summary and Analysis

We the Living was published in 1936 and tells of the conflict between the individual and the state, between the value of human life and the evil of the state which claims the right to sacrifice it. It takes place in Soviet Russia; the speech is given by Kira Argounova to Andrei Taganov. Kira is engaged in a love affair with Andrei to get money she needs to save Leo Kovalensky's life, a man she is in love with. Andrei is a young Communist, deeply in love with her and was discovering his personal values but arrested Leo for a political crime. He then learns of their relationship. Kira responds.

Kira's point is that Andrei has no right to criticize her for using him because he defends a social order that does so en masse to...