# Three Personalities. (Yuri Paporov, "The Fish from the Aquarium." Chapters I-Vi). A Literary Essay

Henry de Overwood

MMMDCCLXI. Three personalities. (Yuri Paporov, "The Fish from the "Aquarium"". Chapters I-VI). A Literary Essay. - February 6, 2026.

Three personalities. (Yuri Paporov, "The Fish from the 'Aquarium'". Chapters I-VI). A Literary Essay.


I started reading Yuri Paporov's book, "The Fish from the 'Aquarium'".


In some ways, Yuri Paporov's book is reminiscent of the Alexander Solzhenitsyn's short story "Adlig Schwenkitten." The reader sees a large number of (literary) characters, his attention becomes scattered, and a reader lose the connections between certain elements of the text.


However, this peculiarity of Yuri Paporov's book is quickly neutralized by the very structure of "The Fish from the 'Aquarium'." This book can be read as a collection of plots, a collection of short stories, all somehow interconnected. Each story is more or less clear and quite interesting.


A reader feels ironic questions: Why is there no information about party meetings? (The main character is a member of Communist Party of Soviet Union). What order (a state award) did the main character receive? Why is there no information about Soviet revolutionary and state holidays, which every Soviet citizen should celebrate-regardless of where they are: at Homeland or abroad?


Where do these ironic questions come from? Perhaps out of 1990s' TV receivers? From those comedians who constantly amused the people? Those peoples (persons) whom Yeltsin called as "Rossiyane"?


I was finishing this essay and came across a such phrase in the book: "For the first time in 18 years since Victory Day [1945], Pyotr Serko did not knock back (drink) a shot (a glass) [of vodka] on May 9, but sat silently all day on the sofa in the living room in deep thought." He, as it seen, celebrated holidays.


Gradually, I see three personalities - in the book's main character.


The first personality is a European, a rational thinker, observant, capable of comparisons and conclusions. His surname is Serko. Something Bulgarian or Serbian is in this surname . This man is capable of clear, critical thinking; his thoughts and observations are directed at both the USSR and Western countries. Sometimes he directs his attention, his gaze, to himself, and he looks at himself with bewilderment, irony, and other emotions. This normal man is on the top of happiness: after having indulged in the pleasures of Soviet life, he has moved to a normal, sunny, prosperous country with comfortable cities, beautiful nature, and charming, well-mannered (cultured) (with a good upbringing) women. He can't believe his good fortune.


The second personality is a war veteran. He fought in the army commanded by Vasilevsky, Rokossovsky, and other great military leaders. This is a man of duty, military honor, responsibility and discipline. He has a sense of self-worth. This man feels bewildered; many things seem strange to him. Bosses and teachers (instructors, lecturers) occupy a special place in his worldview. The protagonist tries to find moral support, tries to have frank conversations with people he considers men of duty and honor, but they are reluctant to open up. They too [like him] feel themselves bewildered and confused.


The third personality is a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, a heir to the October Revolution. He is involved in the construction of a new society, unprecedented on planet Earth. He receives information about Khrushchev and other party leaders. This information raises questions.


The main character interacts more with the communists living in Mexico than with the Soviet communists. The book's main character has a boss. This boss, out of necessity, lives "undercover," selling books. Mexico has a tax controlling authorities. A business has expenses and income. The boss sells books. It's not particularly profitable business, but the low profitability is compounded by the fact that book buyers (communists living in Mexico) often evade payment for their purchases (books). The boss pressures (of) debtors, trying to receive out of them payments for the books. They file (direct, send) complaints against the boss to Moscow. The boss, a qualified employee, is removed from his position and recalled from Mexico.


The three personalities of the book's main character look at the beautiful, sunny life of the Mexican people, - and the main character doesn't know what he must to think.


I finished the reading Chapter VI, "THREE LEAVINGS OUT OF A LIFE" ("THREE PASSINGS"), and decided to write this essay.


February 6, 2026, 7:35 PM


Translation from Russian into English: February 7, 2026, 10:22

Владимир Владимирович Залесский ' Три личности. (Юрий Папоров "Рыбка из "Аквариума"". Главы I - VI). Литературный очерк. '


{ 3790. Три личности. (Юрий Папоров "Рыбка из "Аквариума"". Главы I - VI). Литературный очерк. - 6 февраля 2026 г.

MMMDCCLXI. Three personalities. (Yuri Paporov, "The Fish from the 'Aquarium'". Chapters I-VI). A Literary Essay. - February 6, 2026.


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