Between Shades Of Gray Character Analysis

Evil resides within the heart of every human. However, sometimes this smudge of darkness is fed by unimaginably large amounts of hatred and ignorance. Eventually, the heart loses any sense of humanity and shrivels into a carcass of its original self, both black and toxic. In the novel Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys this nature of evil is evident through the characters of Komorov, the NKVD officers, and Ivanov. Within the novel, at various moments, each character displays the human capacity for evil through their treatment of the prisoners. For Komorov, this is highlighted when he brutally murders a grieving mother. Furthermore, he traumatizes several prisoners by nearly burying them alive. For the NKVD, this evil is shown right
Firstly, this is exemplified when he shoots Ona, who is just grieving the death of her newborn, in the head for making a fuss. In chapter 27, as Ona chants and shakes in grievance and shock, the irritated commander yanks her harshly off the truck and shoots her in the head without a moment of hesitation. Lina describes, “his eyes narrowed and his square jaw tightened. [...] The commander pulled out a pistol and shot Ona in the head” (101). Komorov displays no compassion for a mother’s loss and grievance as he brutally murders her for expressing sorrow. Hence, his merciless heart is made apparent through his inability to understand the pain of another human being and his absolutely untroubled approach to ruthless murder. Additionally, Komorov’s viciousness is shown when he tries to intimidate the prisoners into signing the forms that state they’re criminals by nearly burying them alive. In chapter 37, Komorov forces a couple prisoners, including Lina and her mother, to lie down in a hole they’ve dug. He then begins kicking dirt into the hole until they’re nearly completely buried in an attempt to scare them into signing the document. Lina narrates, “he circled around and around, muttering that we were disgusting pigs. [...] He kicked furiously, covering us in dirt, still pointing the gun at our faces. If I sat up, I’d be shot. If
First of all, his wickedness is highlighted when he laughs at the group that dies due to building their jurta doors to open out and consequently, ending up trapped inside when it snows. In chapter 73, after the first snowstorm breaks, the prisoners notice a jurta completely covered in snow. After surveying the scene, Ivanov laughingly comments, “‘four of them are dead in there! Stupid pigs’” (Sepetys 287). He displays a complete disregard for the lives of the prisoners and even mocks the circumstances that led to their death. Evident in this disregard is Ivanov’s malevolent nature as he devalues the lives of thousands and merely laughs as the prisoners die the most horrific of deaths. Similarly, Ivanov’s complete lack of conscience is shown again when he guiltlessly mocks Lina and her situation as she begs him for something to help her ill mother. In chapter 79, Lina, in complete desperation, works up the courage to go and beg Ivanov for anything that may aid the recovery of her sick mother. She has only just revealed that her mother is unwell when he, in mock concern, replies, “‘give her plenty of sunshine, fresh fruits, and lots of vegetables’” (313). The thought of a child desperately trying to save their mother’s life is nothing but amusing to Ivanov and he taunts their pleas and helplessness. Thus, Ivanov’s villainous nature is once again revealed as he, despite absolutely