A Ticket to the Stars: Analysis of Major Characters
"A Ticket to the Stars: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the lives of several young individuals navigating the complexities of post-war Soviet society. Central to the narrative is Dimka, a seventeen-year-old high school graduate who grapples with the desire for independence against the backdrop of familial expectations. This theme of rebellion is echoed in his friends, Yurka and Alik, who also seek to carve out their own paths—Yurka through sports and Alik through writing—demonstrating a shared youthful yearning for autonomy. Galya, Dimka's girlfriend, embodies this desire as she defies parental approval to join her friends on a journey, highlighting the collective pursuit of freedom among the youth. In contrast, Victor, Dimka's older brother and a space scientist, represents the older generation, exhibiting a sense of duty to the system while also showing a nuanced understanding of the younger generation's aspirations. The interplay between these characters reflects the broader societal tensions of the time, as they navigate familial ties, personal ambitions, and the quest for self-determination in a restrictive environment. This exploration showcases the emerging independence of the Soviet youth and their potential to shape a new future.
A Ticket to the Stars: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Vassily Aksyonov
First published: Zvezdnyi bilet, 1961 (A Starry Ticket, 1962; better known as A Ticket to the Stars)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Moscow and the Baltic coast
Plot: Social realism
Time: Summer, 1960
Dimka, a seventeen-year-old who has recently been graduated from high school. He represents the generation of Russian youth born during World War II, who have little firsthand knowledge of the hardships that their parents experienced. Having completed his secondary education, he is faced with the decision of whether to continue his education or to seek a job. Even though he loves his parents and admires his older brother, Victor, a space scientist, Dimka leaves home and Moscow, mainly because he wants to make his own decisions for the first time in his life. This rebelliousness stems from the fact that young people in the Soviet Union are constantly told what to do instead of being allowed to make their own decisions. Even Dimka's successful brother cannot escape the criticism of being too pliant in acquiescing to the system. Dimka is not rebellious solely for the sake of asserting his independence, as shown at the end of the novel, when he returns home after hearing about his brother's fatal accident. Through this act, he confirms his integrity and innate sense of responsibility. This attitude bodes well for the young Soviet generation, showing that its individuals can think and act for themselves after decades of submissiveness.
Yurka, Dimka's classmate, who joins him on the postgraduation journey and becomes a “kilometer eater” instead of meekly accepting the will of his elders. With his feet placed firmly on the ground, Yurka shows promise in the sports field and hopes to become a basketball star. He is willing to forgo the best chance of achieving that goal, which would mean that he would have to stay at home. Like Dimka and others, Yurka is a young man whose behavior is typical for his age, as seen in his desire to have fun and in his falling in love with Galya. He, too, demonstrates a readiness to make his own decisions and to sacrifice the benefits of going along with the system.
Alik, Dimka and Yurka's classmate and trip companion. More withdrawn and art-oriented, Alik hopes to make writing his career. By asserting his independence and by wasting time in aimless wandering, he risks losing the best chance of learning the writing skills, that of a continuing education. He is willing to take that risk, knowing intuitively that the best way to become a good writer is to get to know the world outside the benevolent but stifling protection of his parents. Like his friends, Alik shows a remarkable maturity for his age and a fiercely independent spirit.
Galya, Dimka's girlfriend and classmate. Galya asserts her will by leaving on the trip with three classmates, against her parents' wishes. She behaves normally for her age when she flirts with Yurka, even though she is Dimka's girlfriend, and when she falls for the tall tales of a middle-aged actor, a chance acquaintance who promises to help her in her acting career. She is a perfect companion for the three boys in showing the same desire for independence. She also demonstrates that this desire is genuine and widespread among the Russian youth.
Victor, Dimka's older brother, a space scientist. A member of a prewar generation, Victor displays a more obedient mentality and a willingness to serve the system. He, too, shows signs of independence when, after discovering new material, he refuses to complete his dissertation only for the sake of getting a degree. He is also more understanding of the young people, as shown in his refusal to interfere with Dimka's decision to leave home, even though he disagrees with it. Victor's lasting legacy is “a ticket to the stars” for the younger generations, which prompts Dimka to abandon his quest for a new life of adventure and uncertainty and to follow in his brother's footsteps. Victor can thus be seen as a middleman between the old and the new generations and a guidepost toward a better future.