Summary

In chapter 63, Viktor spends an evening at Sokolov’s. In attendance are Karimov, an intellectual whom Viktor met at the library, Sokolov, Sokolov’s brother-in-law, Madyarov, Sokolov’s landlord, Artelev, and Sokolov’s wife, Marya Ivanovna. Despite Sokolov’s discomfort discussing politics, the conversation of the party touches on topics such as the lack of freedom of the press under Stalin, the inefficiencies of the state bureaucracy, and the propaganda and historical revisionism spread by the state. Viktor notices that throughout the conversation he changes his position multiple times.

In chapter 64, the conversation at Sokolov’s turns to the discussion of literature and its relation to the Russian people and their ideals. Tolstoy, Dostoeyvsky, and Chekhov are discussed. Madyarov delivers an impassioned speech about the importance of humanity in Chekhov’s writings. Sokolov is made uneasy about Madyarov’s free expression...