Chapter 72: The Polar Night Begins
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Jonas pulls an empty barrel from the Laptev Sea and rolls it to the jurta. The men convert it into a stove using tin cans from NKVD trash, bringing a rare moment of cheer. Lina recalls Ivanov’s cruelty—how he snatched an old woman’s bread ration and spit chewed pieces at her feet, which she ate. Mrs. Rimas speculates Ivanov was demoted from a prison in Krasnoyarsk, making Lina wonder if Kretzsky was also demoted and if Ivanov saw her father.
Lina obsessively draws detailed pictures of food and writes about the American ship’s supplies. The NKVD orders prisoners to roll logs from the sea for firewood but forbids them from keeping any. That night, Janina asks for wood; the bald man suggests stealing from the NKVD building. Lina volunteers and Jonas joins. She notices Mother’s increasing weakness and confusion. Lina realizes Mother may be giving her own bread ration to them, starving herself.
They walk toward the NKVD building under the moonlit polar night. The wind is brutal. Jonas offers his too-large coat; Lina declines. They encounter Kretzsky, who asks what they are doing. When they explain, he throws a piece of wood at their feet and walks away without a word.
The first snowstorm arrives on September 26 and lasts two days. Freezing wind seeps through the jurta’s cracks; Lina’s joints ache. Everyone huddles for warmth. The repeater admits to eating stolen fish but didn’t share, drawing angry accusations. Janina scratches her scalp—lice have arrived. They dig snow paths to the bakery for rations. Jonas ensures Mother eats her full ration and drinks water. With the storm raging, they must use a bucket inside the jurta, a humiliating but necessary solution.
Key Events
- Jonas finds an empty barrel and the men turn it into a stove.
- Lina recalls Ivanov’s cruel bread theft and learns he may have been demoted.
- Lina suspects Mother is giving away her own bread ration and starving.
- Lina and Jonas go to steal wood; Kretzsky throws a piece at their feet.
- The first snowstorm begins on September 26, trapping them inside for two days.
- The repeater is caught hoarding fish, causing conflict.
- Janina develops lice; the family starts using a bucket indoors.
Character Development
- Lina: Becomes more observant and protective. She notices Mother’s decline, questions her brother, and takes initiative to find wood despite the risk.
- Jonas: Shows resourcefulness with the barrel and concern for his sister’s warmth. He also ensures Mother eats, taking on a caregiver role.
- Mother (Elena): Previously a source of strength, she now appears weak and confused. Her secret sacrifice—giving her ration to her children—reveals her selflessness.
- Kretzsky: Remains ambiguous; his small act of throwing wood suggests hidden compassion but he avoids direct help.
- The Repeater: His selfishness with the fish highlights how hunger fractures community trust.
- The Bald Man: Shows desperation, urging Janina to steal, reflecting moral decay under extreme conditions.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
- Sacrifice: Mother’s choice to starve herself for her children mirrors the novel’s exploration of self-preservation versus love.
- Hunger: The detailed food drawings and memories of wasted meals emphasize the physical and psychological torment of starvation.
- The Stove: The barrel-stove symbolizes hope and ingenuity, a small victory against the cold.
- Polar Night: The constant darkness amplifies despair and the struggle to endure.
- Lice and Filth: The arrival of lice and the need for an indoor toilet show how dignity erodes under camp conditions.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks a turning point: the onset of polar night and the first major snowstorm intensify the family’s fight for survival. Lina’s realization about Mother’s sacrifice deepens the emotional stakes. The encounter with Kretzsky suggests that even NKVD officers may have moments of humanity, while the communal conflict over the fish illustrates the breakdown of solidarity. The chapter sets the stage for the brutal winter ahead and cements Lina’s role as a protector of her family.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Lina suspect that Mother has been giving away her own bread ration?
Lina notices Mother appears weaker and confused, and she cannot recall seeing Mother eat properly. She remembers that Mother always encourages them to eat and claims extra rations from hauling logs. Lina deduces that Mother is likely giving her own portion to keep Lina and Jonas alive.
2. How does Kretzsky react when he finds Lina and Jonas looking for wood?
He asks why they are out and, after they explain, he throws a piece of wood at their feet and leaves without further conversation. This small act suggests he may feel a flicker of guilt or pity, but he remains unwilling to openly help.
3. What challenges does the first snowstorm bring to the family?
The storm lasts two days, bringing freezing winds through cracks in the jurta. They cannot leave easily, so they must dig paths to the bakery. Lina collects snow for drinking water. The cold causes physical pain, and they are forced to use a bucket indoors, adding humiliation to their suffering. The storm also escalates tension over scarce food, as seen when the repeater is confronted about his fish.