How the Steel was Tempered is a classic Socialist Realist novel that chronicles the journey of Pavel. Socialist Realist novels are often thought of to be “how things are and how things ought to be.” This novel seems to so far include the past and what could be the present.
The novel in part 1 starts with a timeline much earlier than when the novel was published, and continues to what could be considered the present or near present. I see the early parts of the novel as a reminder of what had occurred and how bad things were in the previous way of life. This is shown through the interactions between Pavel and the waiters, who Pavel calls “swine” and complains that they are paid too much. The waiters then literally attack him when he floods the station, when the station was only flooded because Pavel was being exploited by the restaurant. He and the common man are victims of the system.
The novel begins part 2 (the part included in this reading) with the story of the fallen trees and the building of the railway. This is how things are now and it is clear in the writing how much better things are now. The work is hard, but the young and strong men are able to complete this work thought impossible. This is for the community and supported by the community – they are working together to save the community. The town gave “all the food [it] could provide” and Pavel was even given a shoe when he couldn’t use his other. The work is hard but everyone is in it together.
The old way of life is an interesting contrast to the new way of life. It seems as if instead of what is and what ought to be it is what was and what is. Was the set up of the two parts of the novel done to display the changes in Soviet life? Almost a reminder of how far society has come? Do you see the altercation with the waiters as a condemnation on capitalism and a figurative beating of the common man? Do you see the story of the train line as collective propaganda?
