Sanine by Mikhail Artsybashev
"Sanine," a novel by Mikhail Artsybashev published in 1907, explores themes of individuality, societal norms, and the complexities of human relationships in a provincial Russian garrison town. The story centers on Vladimir Petrovitch Sanine, who returns home with a strong belief in personal freedom and self-determination, which clashes with the traditional values held by his family, particularly his mother and sister, Lida. Lida's romantic entanglement with the brutish Captain Zarudin leads to a series of tragic events, including her pregnancy and subsequent emotional turmoil, reflecting the constraints placed on women during this era.
Sanine's interactions with Lida, as well as other characters like the politically minded Yuri and the passionate schoolteacher Sina, illustrate the tension between personal desires and societal expectations. The narrative takes a darker turn with the suicides of characters linked to Sanine, prompting him to confront the consequences of his beliefs and actions. The novel's candid exploration of sexuality and moral ambiguity sparked significant controversy upon release, positioning Artsybashev as a transformative figure in early 20th-century Russian literature. Ultimately, "Sanine" presents a thought-provoking commentary on the struggle for personal identity against the backdrop of societal pressures and the search for meaning in life.
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Sanine by Mikhail Artsybashev
First published:Sanin, 1907 (English translation, 1914)
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Philosophical
Time of plot: 1906
Locale: Russia
Principal characters
Vladimir Petrovitch Sanine , an individualistic young RussianLida Petrovna , his sisterMaria Ivanovna , his motherCaptain Zarudin , in love with LidaDr. Novikov , also in love with LidaSina Karsavina , briefly the mistress of SanineYuri Svarozhich , in love with Sina Karsavina
The Story:
During the formative years of his life, Vladimir Petrovitch Sanine is away from the influence of his family and their home. When he returns as a young man to his mother’s house in a provincial garrison town, he comes as a person believing only in himself, his strength, and the desirability of following his inclinations, wherever they might lead him. His mother, Maria Ivanovna, cannot understand her son. His sister Lida, however, finds him strangely attractive, even though she distrusts and fears his thinking and its influence.
Lida, having many admirers among young civilians and the junior army officers, is the belle of the little garrison town. Her two most serious admirers are Dr. Novikov, who wishes sincerely to marry her but is awkward as a suitor, and Captain Zarudin, a brutal and lascivious army officer who wishes only to make a sexual conquest and is well on his way to success with the young woman. Sanine, giving the same freedoms to others as he believes in for himself, makes no serious attempt to interfere in his sister’s affairs.
Before long Sanine is caught up in the social life among the young intelligentsia of the town. Among those in the group are Sina Karsavina and Yuri Svarozhich. The former is a pretty young schoolteacher of strong emotions who finds herself drawn strangely to Sanine, although she is very much in love with Yuri, a young student who was exiled to the provinces for his part in revolutionary activities. Although attracted to Sina, Yuri feels that his political duties and ambitions would be hampered if he were married. As a result of his beliefs in political duty, and as a result of bashfulness as well, he avoids becoming emotionally involved with the young schoolteacher.
As the weeks pass, Lida draws closer to Captain Zarudin. So strong is his physical attraction that she refuses a proposal of marriage from Dr. Novikov, whose jealousy almost becomes hate. Soon afterward, Lida becomes Captain Zarudin’s mistress. Discovering that she is pregnant, she turns for help to her lover, only to learn that he is now finished with her, having made his conquest. Lida is distraught and thinks of drowning herself, but she is found by her brother in time. He convinces her that she needs to live and that she should become Dr. Novikov’s wife. Having his sister’s agreement, Sanine goes to Dr. Novikov, who is about to leave the town. Little persuasion is needed, even with a knowledge of the facts, to get the doctor’s agreement to marry Lida.
About this time Captain Zarudin has a visitor from St. Petersburg. When Captain Zarudin and his friend pay a visit to the Sanine home so that the officer might show off the beautiful woman he seduced, Sanine orders the captain to leave the house and suggests further that he leave town. Captain Zarudin, true to the code of his corps, challenges Sanine to a duel. Sanine believes that dueling proves nothing and so refuses the challenge. He learns that his sister, on the other hand, expects him to fight the duel. Realizing that his sister, like his mother, is a conformist to opinion and tradition, Sanine feels alienated from them because of their attitudes and their failure to understand his ideas.
Even more angered by the refusal of his challenge, Captain Zarudin fears that his failure to avenge his honor might put him in a disgraceful position with his brother officers. That he disgraced himself in some people’s eyes by his treatment of Lida does not enter his mind. One evening, as Sanine and some friends are strolling along the boulevard, they unexpectedly meet Captain Zarudin and several of his fellow officers. Captain Zarudin speaks harshly to Sanine and threatens him with a riding crop. In self-defense, Sanine knocks down the officer with his fist. Not much hurt physically but humiliated by the indignity of the blow, Captain Zarudin almost goes out of his mind. Taken back to his quarters, he refuses to see even his friends or his orderly.
After the brief but violent encounter, Sanine walks home with a Jewish friend, Soloveitchik. The two sit for a long time discussing human life and its meaning. Sanine refuses to accept any blame for his behavior, although it might ruin Captain Zarudin’s career and life. The Jew asks Sanine if a man who worries and thinks too much might not be better off dead. Sanine replies that a man or woman who cannot enjoy life is already dead. Shortly afterward, he leaves. On his way home he meets Captain Zarudin’s orderly, who informs him that the officer committed suicide by shooting himself. The next morning word comes, too, that Soloveitchik hanged himself. The two sudden deaths cause a great furor in the little town, but Sanine steadfastly refuses to admit that he is in any way responsible.
One morning Yuri receives a letter from Sina asking him to meet her at a monastery near the town. He meets her as requested, and a tender but awkward love scene ensues. Yuri hates to admit he needs the woman, and his conscience bothers him in strange ways. When Sina is suddenly called back to town that evening, Sanine, who is also visiting at the monastery, offers to escort her. On the way both Sanine and Sina are overcome by their emotions, and she surrenders to him. Though she is upset afterward, she decides that the best thing for her to do is to forget what happened. In the meantime Yuri’s sister tries to persuade her brother to marry. The problems that marriage raise for him are so great that the young man cannot face them, and he shoots himself. At the funeral Sanine is asked to say a few words, and he declares that there is one fool less in the world. His response horrifies everyone. Soon afterward, Sanine leaves the town again by train. Early one morning, as the train is crossing the plains, he jumps off to glory in the beauty of an autumn sunrise.
Bibliography
Artsybashev, Mikhail. Sanin: A Novel. Translated by Michael R. Katz. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 2001. Includes an excellent introduction by Otto Boele recounting the scandal set off by the novel’s publication, placing the book within the context of fin de siècle Russia, and providing analysis of the novel and information about Artsybashev’s literary career.
Boele, Otto. “The Pornographic Roman à Thèse: Mikhail Artsybashev’s Sanin.” In Eros and Pornography in Russian Culture, edited by Marcus Levitt and Andreí Toporkov. Moscow: Ladomir, 1999. Boele focuses on the novel’s depiction of sexuality, which caused many Russians to denounce the book as pornographic.
Engelstein, Laura. The Keys to Happiness: Sex and the Search for Modernity in Fin-de-Siècle Russia. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1992. Surveys popular culture in early twentieth century Russia. Elaborates Artsybashev’s role as literary innovator.
Luker, Nicholas. In Defense of a Reputation: Essays on the Early Prose of Mikhail Artsybashev. Nottingham, England: Astra Press, 1990. A balanced consideration of Artsybashev’s major novels and a thorough summary of earlier criticism of Artsybashev’s works, most of which are available only in Russian. Emphasizing the careful structure of Sanine, Luker makes a convincing case for considering Artsybashev a serious author.
Phelps, William. Essays on Russian Novelists. New York: Macmillan, 1911. A contemporary account of the sensation Sanine made abroad as an affront to morality and as a pagan appreciation of nature.
Rosenthal, Bernice G., ed. Nietzsche in Russia. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1986. Collection of essays about the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche on Russian authors of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Several essays discuss Artsybashev, including one that considers Sanine as a Nietzschean superman.
Todd, William Mills, ed. Literature and Society in Imperial Russia, 1800-1914. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1978. Examines the relations between Russian literature and mass readership. Sanine’s success is considered in the broader context of works read by the middle classes.