Cristian's Notebook

Throughout I Must Betray You, the author utilizes Cristian’s notebook as a symbol for rebellion. While the narrator is hesitant to express his opinions in public, he records his thoughts and poetry in a private journal hidden beneath his bed. The author suggests that art is a medium for rebellion that has the power to give voice to the persecuted. When Cristian’s notebook is read of Radio Free Europe, his writing gives visibility to thousands of Romanians and creates a counter narrative to the one that Ceausescu had touted for years.

The Factory Examinations

The author utilizes the examination at Cici’s factory as a symbol for invasion of privacy. At the factory, Cici and the other women are subject to forced gynecological examinations to check if they are pregnant. The author enacts this moment in the text to highlight the erasure of...