Arlova
Arlova is Rubashov’s secretary and lover.
The book
Who they are in the book
Spoiler-freeArlova is Rubashov’s secretary and lover. During an earlier purge, she is accused and looks to him for protection. Rubashov remains silent because defending her would threaten his own position. She is executed. In prison, his memory of her calm submission becomes evidence of the human cost he once treated as politically necessary.
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