Power Quotes in Child 44

Like many Russians, Oksana realizes that it's better to just keep her nose clean. Don't confuse this with submission, however: Oksana is as crafty and independent as they come. It's this crafty nature, in fact, that tells her that it's much wiser to fly below the radar.

Leo is one idealistic dude. He doesn't crave power for selfish reasons—he sincerely wants to help people. What a shame that he's the only officer in the MGB who thinks that way, huh? One man can take a stand, but it'll take more than that for real change to happen.

The MGB is the very definition of a hostile work environment. You might think that all of these powerful dudes would get along great, content with the knowledge that they control over 90% of the country. As usual, however, these powerful people only want one thing: more power. They don't want to share it, and they don't care what compromises they'll have to make to get it.

This perfectly highlights the absurdity of the MGB. The organization isn't headed by the smartest, toughest, and most intelligent agents—it's headed by the dude most willing to throw his peers under the bus. These guys aren't Bond-worthy super-villains—they're just tattle-tails.

Leo knows enough about the MGB to know that submission is mandatory. His knowledge of the MGB's tactics actually comes to be quite useful, helping him navigate through situations that would land most citizens in the Gulag.

Raisa might be oversimplifying things, but she's got a point. Leo didn't have to do much self-examination when he was a high-ranking MGB agent; in fact, he probably avoided it at all costs. Now that he's just a regular guy again, he's forced to come to terms with the man he has become.

As you can see, Raisa has always been bitter about Leo's career. This is indicative of the differences between them: Raisa's a bit punk rock, while Leo's more like easy-listening oldies. Still, Raisa can now see that Leo is a fundamentally good dude who has done some misguided stuff. Sure, he's not perfect—but who is?

Vasili is the ideal MGB agent: cold, uncaring, and a bit dense. While Leo worked for the MGB out of a sincere desire to do right by his country, Vasili is driven solely by a lust for power. To him, being violent and cruel is just a perk.

Well, we're glad you can admit it, Vasili, old buddy. Let's be honest though: you're pretty much just in love with Leo. You're like an elementary school kid who gives wet-willies to the classmate he has a crush on. Sweet Jedidiah, we still have nightmares about getting wet willies.

Throughout the novel, we see old women used as symbols of traditional Russian society. The truth is that the real power isn't in the hands of the bureaucrats and generals—it's in the hands of these strong, proud, and fearless women. You can push them around, but they're never going to stop getting back up.