Summary

René begins this section by introducing Nero’s second wife, Vasilia Arsenyeva, a gymnast from Russia. René warns the reader that Vasilia is “a brilliant liar,” and goes on to describe how Vasilia seduced Nero into marrying her – the two quickly become engaged (78). René then includes the three sons’ opinion of Vasilia in a movie-script style. Petya says that “the crux of a great person’s life is the choice between doing what is right and what he wants to do,” implying that by marrying Vasilia, Nero has done what he wants, not what is right (86).

René’s narration then includes two monologues, one spoken by Vasilia “concerning love and need,” and the other spoken by the imaginary “Baby Yaga Inside Arsenyeva’s Skin” (93, 95). In her monologue, Vasilia says her past is something she “no longer [wishes] to see,” going on to...