How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph), (Chapter.Figure)
Quote #7
[Vovka] grabs the banner out of my hands and jabs it around like a rifle with a bayonet attached. It's a drill we learned in our war-preparedness class. (17.5)
So, what's on your class schedule for next semester? We're betting it's not "War-Preparedness Class." And, yikes! Bayonets? This is no joke: even the children in this society are being trained for warfare (keep in mind that this story takes place during the Cold War, which could have turned hot at any moment).
Quote #8
Before anyone has time to answer, Vovka flies at Nina Petrovna, grips her by the throat, and begins strangling her. Nina Petrovna's face turns red and her eyes bulge. She makes gurgling noises and starts kicking up her legs. Nina Petrovna and Vovka knock things to the floor and bump into desks.
Everybody jumps up; some are screaming, but most are laughing. (22.12-13)
This is not the behavior of a normal child under normal circumstances. Instead, we see that Nina Petrovna and the system have pushed Vovka far over the edge. He's already grieving for his dad, who has been executed, and now the teacher is rubbing it in his face, in front of all the other kids. This is a truly disturbing moment that shows us just now normal violence was as a part of daily life here. Most of the kids don't really react, but instead just laugh. Eesh.
Quote #9
"Everybody confesses in Lubyanka. We know how to make people talk." (25.14)
Everybody confesses, because they're probably being subjected to cruel things like torture. Of course you're going to confess to a whole host of crimes that you may not have committed when you're in the worst pain you've ever felt.