Women As A Means to Escape Violence

The novel depicts women as a means for men to escape violence, Aliocha in particular but also men more broadly caught up in the violence of military action. This is primarily explored through the character of Helene, but is introduced before the arrival of her character in the narrative through the Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers who protest against conscription in Pushkin Square in Moscow. Although not involved in Aliocha's rescue, the women of the Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers represent a collective effort to challenge the violence of military conscription. Through their protests and advocacy, these women seek to protect young men like Aliocha from the horrors of war and militarism, advocating for peace and justice in the face of militaristic aggression and violence. Elsewhere in the opening chapter, women are shown as a means of escape from violence, through a...