Glukhovsky's Metro 2033 (2/3): The Kremlin

 Map of the Kremlin. Source (author: "Ludvig14")

By Péter MARTON
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This is a very brief post, but with what may qualify as spoilers. The aim is to discuss one of the key metaphors in Glukhovsky's book. One that's not particularly sophisticated, but is very effective, and yet... goes unrecognised by many readers for what it is (especially by those enjoying the book on the superficial level of just following Artyom running around in the dark in his quest to make sense of his... quest).

We learn about the Kremlin two important things in Metro 2033: 

• Above the ground, the stars on top of the towers attract people who can't resist looking at them. In fact, this is no mere attraction: they are lured there. They keep staring and, imperceptibly to themselves, their feet deliver them to the being or thing that resides inside. If you're reminded of the Eye of Sauron, I guess that's fine.
• Under the ground, we come across the metro station under the Kremlin to encounter the psychic, life-devouring biomass that fills the basement. It is supposed to be the remnant of a synthetic biological weapon that was dropped on the Kremlin in the course of the military conflict that ended the world as we once knew it. This weapon was used to make sure everyone inside would die but those beautiful buildings would remain standing. The biomass now has a life of its own, and controls the area. It is hard to hurt, and it can move with decent mobility. It can reach out for its victims as well as it can suck out their will to resist or flee it, using its psychic powers.

Let me put this together then. The Kremlin is powerful and life-devouring. (Note that this is where Gagarin's ashes were buried, too, in the wall of the Kremlin.) Its power stems not just from its own capability to hurt but from its control over the minds. All that's inside equals one big monster. You may kill the operators of this monstrous structure, but the new tenants will in all likelihood not behave very differently from the predecessors. The behaviour of the biomass is just a continuation of these patterns.

This may not be very sophisticated, but it's clever (and sets the stage for some really dramatic scenes and action in the book).

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely," as Lord Acton rightly observed. You "only" have to give up your soul in the process of exercising it. Call it a Faustian bargain, or refer to Tolkien and "the precious" if you wish. In the history of Russia-slash-the-Soviet-Union-slash-Russia-anew, this has been a visible dynamic time and again. Be thou an éminence grise, a loyal public servant, or the ruler oneself, you will be but a cogwheel in a machinery that makes and breaks the law, and writes and rewrites "truth" as it pleases. 

Arguably, this is not entirely unique regarding sites of power around the world, but the Kremlin certainly works especially well as a symbol of power that is only accountable to itself.

See also: Richard Alderson's brilliant painting, Gremlin in the Kremlin!

Coming up next: Glukhovsky's Metro 2033: Gender Issues...

Previously on EUtopias and Other Futures: Glukhovsky's Metro 2033: The Stations, on Original Soviet Matchbox Label Art