How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
She'd found the children less politically savvy than students in Moscow [...] and generally they seemed much more like children. (3.22.2)
Once again, we see a marked difference between urban and rural life. In the city, everyone is too frightened of being arrested to let their guard down, even for a moment. In the country, however, people have some freedom to live their lives as they please. It's not much, but it's all they've got right now.
Quote #8
No place was layered in more levels of protection than Moscow. They were attempting to sneak into the most heavily policed city in the country. (4.33.6)
Yikes—that's enough to make James Bond think twice. Moscow is the heart of the Soviet Union, its seat of power. If Leo is going to pull a Frodo Baggins and sneak into the land of darkness, he's going to need to find a way to fit in.
Quote #9
"You've lost faith in the people of this country because you've been surrounded by the people in power. The State doesn't represent these villages." (4.50.23)
Raisa, we couldn't have said it better ourselves. Leo has spent most of his adult life living in a bubble, detached from the everyday lives of his fellow Russians. It seems silly, but he thinks that they're ignorant of what goes on within the government. Trust us, buddy—they know plenty well.